| McCarron MM and Wood JD, 1983, USA | 48 suspected smugglers with ingested intra-corporeal cocaine packets
(number of packets per patient: 15–175) | Prospective cohort | Complete passage of packets per rectum | 47 patients | |
| | | Emergency surgery | 1 patient with obstruction | |
| | | Complications of conservative management | 2 patients developed cocaine toxicity due to packet | |
| Caruana DS et al, 1984, USA | 50 patients with ingested intra-corporeal cocaine packets.
(number of packets passed per patient: 54–182) | Retrospective cohort | Complete passage of packets per rectum using conservative management. | 44 patients | Treatment environment unknown |
| | | | | Time from admission to onset of symptoms in the three patients who developed complications unknown |
| | | Elective surgery | 6 patients (their own choice) | |
| | | Complications of conservative management | 3 patients required emergency surgery for obstruction | |
| Aldrighetti L et al, 1996, Italy | 61 asymptomatic suspected smugglers with ingested intra-corporeal packets of cocaine
(number of packets ingested per patient: 52–117) | Retrospective cohort | Complete passage of packets per rectum using conservative management. | 61 patients | Treatment environment unknown |
| | | | | Time from admission to onset of symptoms in the obstructed patient unknown |
| | | Complications of conservative management | 2 patients required emergency surgery: 1 obstruction, 1 cocaine toxicity (on day 3 of admission | |
| Bulstrode N et al, 2002, UK | 180 suspected smugglers with ingested intra-corporeal packets of contraband.
(number of packets per patient: 2–217) | Retrospective cohort | Complete passage of packets per rectum using conservative management | 144 asymptomatic body packers | Several key details unknown, for example, exact management of the 144 packers who were not admitted and discharge criteria |