The exact cause of death of Donda West, rapper Kanye West's
mother, can't be known, but she most likely died of heart disease
coupled with complication after cosmetic surgery, a Los Angeles
County coroner said Thursday as quoted by media reports.
Donda West, a former university professor who helped manage her
Grammy-winning son's business and educational foundation, died Nov.
10 at a Los Angeles-area hospital, a day after she had breast
reduction, tummy tuck and liposuction procedures.
In a 17-page final autopsy report, the coroner's office
attributed Donda's death, 58, to coronary artery disease and a
number of factors related to her cosmetic surgery.
The woman also was overweight and had developed several
complications after surgery, including bronchopneumonia in one
lung, according to the report.
"It is my opinion Ms. West died from some pre-existing coronary
artery disease and multiple postoperative factors following
surgery," Dr. Louis A. Pena, a deputy medical examiner, stated in
the report.
Studies have shown serious complications from plastic surgery
are rare, with death occurring in 1 in 58,810 procedures.
Donda and her son, who has remained largely silent about her
death, were close. She raised him after her husband left when he
was a toddler, and she often accompanied him to parties and awards
shows. She was the inspiration for the song "Hey Mama" on his 2005
album "Late Registration."
(Xinhua/Agencies January 11, 2008)