Jan 10, 2008 4:12 pm US/Central
Coroner Unable To Determine How Donda West Died
LOS ANGELES (AP) ―
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Kanye West, left, smiles during a signing for his mother Donda's book, "Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar" on May 9, 2007, in Los Angeles. (File)
Vince Bucci/Getty Images
The exact cause of death couldn't be determined but there was no sign of "surgical or anesthetic misadventure" in the death of Donda West, Kanye West's mother, a coroner's report said Thursday.
West, 58, died Nov. 10 at a Los Angeles-area hospital, a day after she had breast reduction, a tummy tuck and liposuction.
The report noted that coronary artery disease, the liposuction and mammoplasty, and multiple postoperative factors could have played a role, but said the exact contribution of each factor couldn't be determined.
The investigation found "therapeutic levels of medication" but no unusually high levels.
"The final matter of death could not be determined," the coroner's office said in a statement.
Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County coroner's office said the family was notified of the findings earlier Thursday. "They were appreciative of our efforts," he said.
Asked if West would still be alive if she hadn't undergone the surgery, Winter said: "She could, possibly. But she could have also died because of pre-existing cardiac issues."
The coroner's office had said early indications suggested West died from surgical complications.
West was found unresponsive at her home a day after her surgery. In emergency 911 tapes released earlier this month, two unidentified women told a dispatcher that West suffered a heart attack and unsuccessfully tried to revive her.
Dr. Jan Adams, who operated on West, has denied any wrongdoing. Adams has repeatedly suggested other causes of death including heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or accidental overdose of painkillers prescribed after the surgery.
The state medical board is investigating whether Adams' license should be revoked or suspended after two alcohol-related arrests in the past four years.
Five months before her death, West had approached plastic surgeon Dr. Andre Aboolian of Beverly Hills, who was concerned about a pre-existing condition that may cause a heart attack during surgery. Aboolian didn't operate on her.
West was the inspiration for the song "Hey Mama" on her rapper-son's 2005 album, "Late Registration."
She left academia in 2004 to manage her son's career. She was chief executive of West Brands LLC and chairwoman of the Kanye West Foundation. In May, she published a memoir titled, "Raising Kanye: Life Lessons From the Mother of a Hip-Hop Star."
(© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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