Los Angeles County Medical Examiner Confirms Cause of Lisa Marie Presley’s Death
Los Angeles, California – The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has released a report stating that Lisa Marie Presley’s death in January was caused by a “sequelae of a small bowel obstruction.” The report, obtained by CNN, revealed that Presley’s small bowel obstruction was attributed to scar tissue that developed after bariatric surgery she had undergone years ago. Adhesions from the surgery caused the blockage in her small intestine, ultimately leading to her death.
A small bowel obstruction occurs when the small intestine becomes blocked, often due to factors such as scar tissue, a hernia, or cancer. Without surgical intervention, a small bowel obstruction can cause bowel tissue to die or perforate, which can be fatal.
The autopsy report also noted that Presley had therapeutic levels of oxycodone in her blood, indicating that the medication was being used within the medically appropriate range and was not a contributing factor to her death. Additionally, the presence of other medications, quetapine metabolite and buprenorphine, were also found, but they were determined to not have played a role in her death.
Deputy medical examiner Dr. Juan M. Carrillo, who reviewed Presley’s autopsy toxicology results, concluded that there was no evidence of injury or foul play. He deemed the manner of death to be natural.
Dr. Michael Camilleri, a consultant and professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Mayo Clinic, explained that the adhesions in Presley’s case could have been exacerbated by the medications found in her system. However, he clarified that adhesions can occur in anyone and that the presence of these medications did not necessarily make her more prone to complications.
Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of the late Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley, passed away hours after being admitted to the hospital following an apparent cardiac arrest on January 12. The autopsy report stated that she had been experiencing abdominal pain on the morning of her death.
Dr. Folasade P. May, associate professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, speculates that Presley’s severe complication from the small bowel obstruction led to her cardiac arrest. Neither Dr. May nor Dr. Camilleri were directly involved in Presley’s case.
Lisa Marie Presley was 54 years old at the time of her death. Her passing shocked and devastated her family, with Priscilla Presley, her mother, issuing a statement expressing gratitude for the support and asking for privacy during their difficult time.
Presley’s last public appearance was at the Golden Globe Awards, just days before her death. She attended the event with her mother to support the film “Elvis,” a biopic about her late father directed by Baz Luhrmann.
Authorities and medical professionals are urging individuals who have had bariatric surgery to be aware of the potential long-term complications, including the development of adhesions, and to seek medical attention if they experience any concerning symptoms.