Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of the legendary singer Elvis Presley, died unexpectedly on January 23, 2023, at the age of 54. Her death shocked and saddened her fans and family, who remembered her as a talented singer-songwriter and a devoted mother of four children.
But what caused her sudden death? And how did opioids, the addictive painkillers that have claimed the lives of many celebrities, contribute to her demise? Here is what we know so far.
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The Cause of Death: Sequelae of Small Bowel Obstruction
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s autopsy report, Presley died of complications of a small bowel obstruction. A small bowel obstruction is a condition where the small intestine is blocked by something, such as a tumor, a hernia, or scar tissue. This prevents the normal passage of food and fluids through the digestive tract, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and bloating.
The autopsy report stated that Presley’s obstruction was in the form of a strangulated small bowel, caused by adhesions that developed after bariatric surgery (gastric bypass) years ago. Bariatric surgery is a type of weight-loss surgery that reduces the size of the stomach and changes the way food is absorbed by the body. It can help people who are obese or have obesity-related health problems lose weight and improve their quality of life.
However, bariatric surgery also has some risks and complications, such as infection, bleeding, leakage, ulcers, malnutrition, and bowel obstruction. According to the autopsy report, Presley experienced issues with constipation for years and had a distended abdomen for years. She also complained of abdominal pain for the past few months but did not seek medical attention. She also had complaints of feeling feverish and vomiting and/or feeling nauseated for months.
On the morning of her death, Presley was suffering from abdominal pain. Her ex-husband, believed to be Danny Keough, took her twin daughters to school. When he returned, Presley was unresponsive and in cardiac arrest. He called 911 and began CPR.
Presley was rushed to a hospital, where they found she had a “severely distended abdomen which was rigid,” “severe metabolic acidosis,” and “anoxic brain injury.” Metabolic acidosis is a condition where the body produces too much acid or cannot remove enough acid from the blood. Anoxic brain injury is a type of brain damage that occurs when the brain does not receive enough oxygen.
At one point, medical staff inserted a temporary pacemaker, but she later went into cardiac arrest and could not be resuscitated.
The Role of Opioids: A Double-Edged Sword
A toxicology report released on Thursday also found therapeutic levels of oxycodone in Presley’s blood. Oxycodone is a type of opioid, a class of drugs that are used to treat moderate to severe pain. Opioids work by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, blocking pain signals and producing feelings of euphoria and relaxation.
However, opioids also have serious side effects and risks, such as drowsiness, confusion, nausea, constipation, respiratory depression, addiction, overdose, and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 50,000 people died from opioid-involved overdoses in 2020 in the United States.
The toxicology report also found another opioid in Presley’s system: buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that can be prescribed for pain relief or for treating opioid use disorder. It can help reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings for opioids by activating the same receptors but with less intensity than full opioids like oxycodone.
Buprenorphine can also block the effects of other opioids if taken together, preventing or reversing an overdose. However, buprenorphine can also cause side effects such as drowsiness, nausea, constipation, respiratory depression, and dependence.
The autopsy report stated that the opioids in Presley’s system did not contribute to her death. However, they may have worsened her condition by causing constipation, which can ultimately lead to bowel obstruction. Constipation is one of the most common side effects of opioids and can affect up to 90% of patients who take them regularly.
Constipation occurs when opioids slow down the movement of food and waste through the intestines. This causes hard stools that are difficult to pass and can accumulate in the colon. This can lead to abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, fecal impaction (a mass of dry stool that cannot be expelled), perforation (a hole or tear in the bowel wall), infection (peritonitis), sepsis (a life-threatening response to infection), and death.
To prevent or treat opioid-induced constipation, doctors may recommend increasing fluid and fiber intake, exercising regularly, using laxatives or stool softeners, or prescribing medications that can counteract the effects of opioids on the bowel, such as naloxegol or methylnaltrexone.
The Legacy of Lisa Marie Presley: A Troubled but Talented Star
Lisa Marie Presley was born on February 1, 1968, to Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley. She was the sole heir to her father’s estate, which included Graceland, the iconic mansion where Elvis lived and died. She inherited his fortune when she turned 25 and became the co-executor of his trust.
Presley followed in her father’s footsteps and pursued a career in music. She released three albums: To Whom It May Concern (2003), Now What (2005), and Storm & Grace (2012). She also collaborated with other artists, such as Michael Jackson, Pat Benatar, and Elvis Costello. She was known for her distinctive voice and her candid lyrics that reflected her personal struggles and experiences.
Presley also had a tumultuous love life. She was married four times: to Danny Keough (1988-1994), Michael Jackson (1994-1996), Nicolas Cage (2002-2004), and Michael Lockwood (2006-2016). She had four children: Riley Keough, 34, and Benjamin Keough, 31, from her first marriage, and Harper and Finley Lockwood, 14, from her fourth marriage.
Presley faced many challenges and tragedies in her life. She battled drug addiction, depression, anxiety, and insomnia. She also endured a bitter divorce and custody battle with Lockwood. She also suffered the loss of her son Benjamin, who died by suicide in July 2020 at the age of 27. He reportedly struggled with mental health issues and substance abuse.
Presley was laid to rest at Graceland’s Meditation Garden, where her father Elvis and her son Benjamin are also buried. She is survived by her mother Priscilla Presley and by her daughters Riley Keough, 34, and 14-year-old twins Harper and Finley Lockwood.
Presley’s death has sparked a renewed interest in her life and legacy. Many fans have expressed their condolences and admiration for her on social media. Some have also called for more awareness and action on the opioid crisis that has claimed the lives of many people, including celebrities like Prince, Tom Petty, Mac Miller, and Juice WRLD.
Presley’s music will also live on as a testament to her talent and spirit. As she sang in one of her songs, “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”:
I’m a bit transgressive and suppressive as well Well you ain’t seen nothing yet Am I a disruption to your corruption? You ain’t seen nothing yet
