Resumen

PORRAS-MORALES, Guillermo. Intoxicación aguda por heroína. Acta méd. costarric [online]. 2004, vol.46, n.1, pp.38-41. ISSN 0001-6002.

Most of opioid related deaths for overdose are accidental and are primarily due to intravenous heroin use. Other forms of poisoning may occur in the so called body packers ("mulas"), who are used in international drug transportation. These patients generally swallow small quantities of wrapped cocaine or heroin in an attempt to smuggle the drugs across international borders. Their breakage can lead to severe and lethal toxicity. The history of a recent a flight in a patient with a clinical syndrome of poisoning, should justify the indication of abdominal x-rays for diagnosis and also surgery for "intestinal cleaning" as part of his therapeutic approach.

Palabras clave : heroína; tráfico; intoxicación.