In a recent revelation from the Los Angeles County medical examiner, it has been determined that Lisa Marie Presley, the only offspring of the iconic musical duo, Elvis and Priscilla Presley, succumbed to a small bowel obstruction.
Her death, which occurred on January 12, has been the source of much speculation. Presley was 54 years of age at her demise. Small bowel obstruction, the cause of Presley's death, denotes a blockage within the small intestine.
Medical research has associated the condition with a variety of factors, including colon cancer, particular medications, adhesions forming after surgery, and conditions that result in inflamed intestines such as Crohn's disease, as per data from the Mayo Clinic.
Autopsy Reveals Surgery Complication
The autopsy report attributed Presley's fatal obstruction to "adhesions that developed during bariatric surgery years ago." The medical examiner underscored that this type of complication, although not frequent, is a known long-term risk associated with such surgery.
Notwithstanding the severity of the condition, fatalities from small bowel obstructions are somewhat rare, as explained by Dr. Angelique Campen, an ER physician at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California.
The painful symptoms usually compel individuals to seek immediate medical attention. The autopsy further revealed that on the morning of her death, Presley had reported experiencing abdominal pain. Presley, much like her legendary father, built a reputation as a singer-songwriter.
Her unexpected death occurred after an emergent hospital admission in January, when she suffered cardiac arrest at her home in Calabasas, California. To pay tribute to her life and legacy, a memorial service was conducted later that same month at Graceland, Elvis Presley's erstwhile residence now serving as a museum.
Notably, Elvis himself rests there. Lisa Marie Presley was interred next to her son, Benjamin Keough, who tragically died by suicide in 2020. The world continues to mourn the loss of such a remarkable woman who carried forward her father's musical legacy.