Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of the legendary rock ‘n’ roll singer Elvis Presley, died of natural causes on January 12, 2023, at the age of 54. Her death shocked and saddened her fans and family, who remembered her as a talented singer and songwriter in her own right. But what exactly caused her death, and how did it relate to a weight-loss surgery she had undergone years ago? Here is what we know so far.
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The Autopsy Report
According to CNN, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office released an autopsy report on July 14, 2023, that revealed the official cause of Presley’s death. The report stated that she died of a “sequelae of a small bowel obstruction”, which means a complication that resulted from a blockage in her small intestine. The blockage was caused by adhesions, or scar tissue, that had formed after she had bariatric surgery, a type of weight-loss surgery, several years ago. The report also said that this was a “known long term complication of this type of surgery”.
The report also noted that Presley had therapeutic levels of oxycodone, a painkiller, in her blood, as well as quetapine metabolite, an antidepressant, and buprenorphine, another painkiller that can also be used to treat opioid addiction. However, the report said that these medications were not contributory to her death, and that there was no evidence of injury or foul play.
The Symptoms and Complications of Small Bowel Obstruction
A small bowel obstruction occurs when the small intestine is blocked by something that prevents the normal passage of food and fluids. This can be caused by various factors, such as colon cancer, hernias, medication, or adhesions. Adhesions are bands of scar tissue that can form after surgeries or infections in the abdomen. They can stick to the organs and tissues in the abdominal cavity and cause them to twist or pull.
A small bowel obstruction can cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, and dehydration. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications, such as bowel tissue death or perforation, infection, sepsis, or shock. These complications can cause cardiac arrest or organ failure and result in death.
According to BBC News, Presley had complained of abdominal pain on the morning of her death. She was rushed to a hospital in Calabasas, California, where she was pronounced dead after suffering a cardiac arrest. Dr. Folasade P. May, an associate professor of medicine at UCLA and director of the gastroenterology quality improvement program, told CNN that she suspects Presley “developed a cardiac arrest because she had a severe complication from the small bowel obstruction”.
The Risks and Benefits of Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery is a term that refers to various surgical procedures that aim to help people lose weight by reducing the size or function of their stomach or intestines. Some common types of bariatric surgery include gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, gastric banding, and duodenal switch. These surgeries can help people who are obese or have obesity-related health problems improve their quality of life and reduce their risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
However, bariatric surgery also has some potential risks and side effects. Some of these include bleeding, infection, leakage, ulcers, hernias, gallstones, nutritional deficiencies, dumping syndrome (a condition where food moves too quickly from the stomach to the small intestine), and adhesions. Adhesions are one of the most common long-term complications of bariatric surgery. According to a study published in the journal Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases in 2018, about 15% of patients who underwent bariatric surgery developed adhesions within five years after their operation.
Dr. Michael Camilleri, a consultant and professor in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the Mayo Clinic, told CNN that adhesions can happen to anybody who has abdominal surgery. He also said that the medications found in Presley’s blood may have slowed down the motility of her intestine and made it more likely for it to get obstructed by the adhesions. However, he added that just because there were these other medications on board does not necessarily mean that Presley was more prone to develop the complications.
The Legacy of Lisa Marie Presley
Lisa Marie Presley was born on February 1st 1968, four days after her parents Elvis and Priscilla Presley got married. She grew up in Graceland, the famous mansion of her father in Memphis, Tennessee. She inherited her father’s musical talent and released three albums over the course of her career: To Whom It May Concern (2003), Now What (2005), and Storm & Grace (2012). She also collaborated with other artists, such as Michael Jackson, Cher, and Elvis Costello.
Presley was also known for her four high-profile marriages, to musician Danny Keough, pop star Michael Jackson, actor Nicolas Cage, and producer Michael Lockwood. She had four children: Riley and Benjamin Keough from her first marriage, and Harper and Finley Lockwood from her fourth marriage. Her son Benjamin died by suicide in 2020, at the age of 27. Presley was buried next to him at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
Presley’s death sparked a legal dispute over her estate, which included Graceland and a stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises. Her mother Priscilla challenged the validity of a 2016 amendment to Presley’s will that had ousted her as a trustee and named Benjamin and Riley as co-trustees. The case was settled in May 2023, but the details were not made public.
Presley’s family and fans mourned her loss and celebrated her life. Her mother Priscilla said in a statement: “Priscilla Presley and the Presley family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Lisa Marie. She was a beautiful soul who touched the lives of many with her music, her generosity, and her love. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.”