Fulminant ischemic colitis with a fatal outcome after cocaine snorting: Case report and literature review

Abstract

Snorting represents the most common route of administration for recreational powdered cocaine, and it is considered less dangerous than other routes of intake (i.e., intravenous; crack inhalation; etc.). A case of fulminant ischemic colitis with a fatal outcome, which occurred in a 19-year-old man after cocaine snorting, is presented in this report. Although several cases are reported in the literature, no one has involved people aged less than 20 years. The young man showed unspecific symptoms, which began about 2 h after the cocaine intake and the physicians were unable to make the diagnosis. This report may assist doctors treating young men who have consumed cocaine to consider this possible complication in all young adults (teenagers) in the presence of unspecific symptoms.

Keywords

• Cocaine
• Snorting/sniffing
• Fulminant ischemic colitis