Lisa Marie Presley, the only daughter and heir of the legendary rock ‘n’ roll icon Elvis Presley, passed away on January 12, 2023, at the age of 54. She was a singer and songwriter herself, as well as a mother of four children and a former wife of four famous men. Her death shocked and saddened her fans and family, who were still grieving the loss of her son Benjamin Keough, who committed suicide in 2020. But what was Lisa Marie Presley’s cause of death? How did she die so suddenly and unexpectedly? Here is what we know from the official autopsy report and other sources.
Contents
Small bowel obstruction due to weight-loss surgery
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Lisa Marie Presley died of natural causes due to the effects of a small bowel obstruction. A small bowel obstruction is a blockage in the small intestine that prevents food and fluids from passing through. It can cause severe pain, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, infection, and tissue damage. If left untreated, it can lead to bowel perforation, sepsis, shock, and death.
The autopsy report revealed that Lisa Marie Presley’s small bowel obstruction was caused by adhesions, or scar tissue, that developed after bariatric surgery she had several years ago. Bariatric surgery is a type of weight-loss surgery that reduces the size of the stomach or bypasses part of the small intestine to limit food intake and absorption. It can help people with obesity lose weight and improve their health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea.
However, bariatric surgery also has some risks and complications, such as bleeding, infection, leakage, ulcers, hernias, gallstones, nutritional deficiencies, and dumping syndrome. One of the most common and serious complications is adhesions. Adhesions are bands of scar tissue that form between organs or tissues after surgery or inflammation. They can cause organs or tissues to stick together or twist, creating obstructions or kinks in the digestive tract. Adhesions can occur in up to 93% of patients who undergo abdominal surgery. They can develop months or years after surgery and cause chronic pain or bowel obstruction.
According to Dr. Juan M. Carrillo, the deputy medical examiner who performed Lisa Marie Presley’s autopsy, adhesions are a known long-term complication of bariatric surgery. He also noted that there was no evidence of injury or foul play in her death.
Cardiac arrest due to small bowel obstruction
The autopsy report also stated that Lisa Marie Presley was found unresponsive at her home in Calabasas, California, after complaining of abdominal pain on the morning of her death. She was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital after first responders tried to resuscitate her. The report said that she suffered a cardiac arrest due to her small bowel obstruction.
Cardiac arrest is a sudden loss of heart function that stops blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. It can be caused by various factors, such as heart disease, arrhythmia, trauma, drug overdose, or electrolyte imbalance. In Lisa Marie Presley’s case, it was likely caused by the severe complications from her small bowel obstruction.
Dr. Folasade P. May, an associate professor of medicine at UCLA and director of the Gastroenterology Quality Improvement Program, told CNN that she suspects Lisa Marie Presley developed a cardiac arrest because she had a severe complication from the small bowel obstruction. She explained that when the bowel is obstructed, it can swell up and compress the blood vessels that supply blood to the intestine. This can lead to ischemia (lack of oxygen) and necrosis (tissue death) of the bowel wall. The dead tissue can then release toxins and bacteria into the bloodstream, causing septic shock (a life-threatening drop in blood pressure) and multi-organ failure.
Dr. May also said that septic shock can trigger an inflammatory response in the body that can affect the heart and cause arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) or myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle). These conditions can impair the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively and result in cardiac arrest.
Medications not contributory to death
The autopsy report also mentioned that Lisa Marie Presley had therapeutic levels of oxycodone (a painkiller), quetiapine metabolite (an antidepressant), and buprenorphine (a painkiller or addiction treatment) in her blood at the time of her death. However, the report said that these medications were not contributory to her death.
Dr. Michael Camilleri, a consultant and professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Mayo Clinic, told CNN that these medications may have slowed down the motility of the intestine and made it more likely for it to get obstructed by the adhesions. However, he also said that these medications are commonly prescribed for patients with chronic pain or depression and that they do not necessarily increase the risk of developing adhesions or complications from bariatric surgery.
He added that adhesions can happen to anyone who undergoes abdominal surgery and that the medications on board do not mean that Lisa Marie Presley was more prone to develop the complications.
A tragic end to a troubled life
Lisa Marie Presley’s death was a tragic end to a troubled life that was marked by fame, fortune, family, and addiction. She was born on February 1, 1968, as the only child of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley. She grew up in the spotlight as the daughter of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and inherited his musical talent and charisma. She released three albums over the course of her career and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004 for her song “Lights Out”.
She was also known for her four high-profile marriages, to musician Danny Keough (1988-1994), pop star Michael Jackson (1994-1996), actor Nicolas Cage (2002-2004), and musician Michael Lockwood (2006-2016). She had four children: Riley Keough (born 1989), Benjamin Keough (born 1992), and twins Harper and Finley Lockwood (born 2008).
However, Lisa Marie Presley also struggled with addiction, depression, and trauma throughout her life. She revealed in a 2003 interview with Rolling Stone that she had been addicted to drugs and alcohol since she was a teenager and that she had been in and out of rehab several times. She also said that she had suffered from sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
She also faced financial troubles, legal battles, and family tragedies in her later years. She filed for divorce from Lockwood in 2016, accusing him of financial mismanagement, infidelity, and child abuse. She also sued her former business manager for allegedly squandering her $100 million fortune and leaving her $16 million in debt. She lost her son Benjamin to suicide in 2020, which she described as “the depth of pain I have never experienced”.
Lisa Marie Presley’s death came as a shock to her family and fans, who were still mourning the loss of her son. Her mother Priscilla Presley said in a statement that they were “shocked and devastated” by her death. Her daughter Riley Keough posted a tribute on Instagram, saying that she “can’t believe you’re gone”. Her ex-husband Cage said that he was “heartbroken” by her death and that she was “a lovely person who cared deeply for her children”.
Lisa Marie Presley was laid to rest next to her son Benjamin at Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee. She was remembered as a talented singer, a loving mother, and a loyal daughter of Elvis.
Conclusion
Lisa Marie Presley’s cause of death was a small bowel obstruction due to adhesions from bariatric surgery. She suffered a cardiac arrest due to the complications from the obstruction. Her medications were not contributory to her death. She died at the age of 54 after a life of fame, fortune, family, and addiction. She was buried next to her son Benjamin at Graceland. She left behind a legacy of music, love, and tragedy.
