SOFT 2004 Meeting Abstracts - Society of Forensic Toxicologists

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ABDOMINAL COMPLICATION OF INHALED METHAMPHETAMINE
Wenceslo Kiat* and Irma Makalinao
National Poison Control and Information Service, University of the Philippines-Philippine General
Hospital Ward 14-A, Taft Avenue Manila, Philippines 1000
Methamphetamine toxicity continues to be the leading cause of referral to the poison center. Despite the
abundance of information regarding its cardiovascular and central nervous system toxicity; abdominal
complications related to inhaled methamphetamine are not commonly encountered and anticipated. We
report a case of a 33 year old female, a known methamphetamine abuser for the last five years who
consulted the emergency room for acute onset of severe abdominal pain and dysuria noted a day prior to
consult Gynecologic problem was ruled out. Abdominal ultrasound showed bile sludge in the gallbladder.
She underwent emergency exploratory laparotomy under general anesthesia. However, intraoperative
findings were normaL The initial urine methamphetamine level done on the fifth day after the last used
showed 2157 ng/ml. This report suggests that methamphetamine toxicity could present as "acute abdomen"
and should be anticipated by emergency room physicians.
Key words: Inhalation, Methamphetamine, Abdomen pain
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