Weight loss or bariatric surgery shouldn’t be considered unless your weight poses a substantial risk of chronic or fatal conditions. This caution is because surgery complications can be as life-threatening as severe obesity. One famous person who died of long-term side effects of this surgery was Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley.
Lisa Marie Presley Dies of Complications of Weight Loss Surgery
Presley was 54 when she died in a Los Angeles hospital on January 12. She was hospitalized after complaining of abdominal pain and apparently suffered cardiac arrest (her heart stopped). She died hours after entering the hospital, leaving three children.
In Presley’s autopsy report, according to CNN, deputy medical examiner Dr. Juan M. Carrillo states Presley had small bowel obstruction to “adhesions (or scar tissue) that developed after bariatric surgery years ago. This is a known long-term complication of this type of surgery.”
A small bowel obstruction blocks the small intestine, often because of scar tissue, a hernia, or cancer. Without surgery to clear it, the condition can cause bowel tissue to die or perforate, possibly leading to the person’s death. It may also cause cardiac arrest.
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Pros and Cons of Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery brings with it potential benefits and harmful side effects. Weight-loss surgery can result in weight loss and improve many obesity-related health problems, reports the National Institutes of Health. Successful surgery may help you prevent or manage:
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- High cholesterol levels
- Sleep apnea
- Urinary incontinence
- Knee, hip, or other body pain
For those who are severely obese, successful bariatric surgery may add years of life.It may also improve quality of life, as people could be:
- Better able to move around and be physically active
- In a better mood and feel more positive about themselves and their future lives
- Able to use fewer medications as they lose weight
- Better off financially as their costs for medical care decrease, and they may be able to work more as they become healthier
But this surgery, beyond what you may need to pay for it, also has potential costs:
- Follow-up medical interventions, hospitalizations, and surgery will be required within five years by about a third of those having the procedure
- Your body may not absorb enough nutrients, which can cause health problems
- Rarely, surgery-related complications can cause death
If you suffer severe and adverse health effects after bariatric surgery, it may not be one of the normal risks of the procedure. Someone on your healthcare team may have been negligent, caused your injuries, possibly entitling you to compensation and corrective surgery through a medical malpractice claim.
Contact Us Today
The Fleck Firm is here to help you protect your legal rights. We represent residents in Western and Central Kentucky and all across the bluegrass injured by others’ negligence. If you think you may be the victim of medical malpractice, call The Fleck Firm at (270) 446-7000 or use our online contact form today. We can discuss your situation, how Kentucky law may apply, and your best options for moving forward.
