D. Kile autopsy results indicate......

[Drbio]

Here is the link.


Kile autopsy uncovers likely cause

Examiner finds coronary artery '80-to 90 percent' blocked
Posted: Sunday June 23, 2002 4:27 PM
Updated: Sunday June 23, 2002 6:46 PM

Darryl Kile had been scheduled to start Sunday night. AP
CHICAGO (AP) -- St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile likely died from a blocked coronary artery, the Cook County medical examiner said Sunday.

Dr. Edmund Donoghue said initial findings of an autopsy showed Kile had "80-to 90 percent narrowing of two of the three branches of the coronary artery."

Donoghue said the blockage was the "likely cause of death."

The state of Illinois requires that medical examiners list a primary cause of death followed by two contributing factors. Donoghue told Sports Illustrated's Lester Munson that if he were filling out a death certficate Sunday, he would "list atherosclerosis as the primary cause and ... leave the other two blank."

Munson said a "pending death certificate" had been issued so that Kile's body could be taken home.

The official autopsy findings, including a toxicology report, will be made official in four to six weeks, Donoghue said.

Munson reports that a substance that appeared to be marijuana was found in Kile's room, but that there was no way to immediately determine whether Kile had used drugs of any kind in the hours preceding his death. Regardless, Donoghue said, "If it is marijuana, it had nothing to do with his death."

Kile, 33, was found dead in the team hotel Saturday. Police said there were no signs of forced entry and no signs of foul play.

The condition, called coronary atherosclerosis, is commonly known as hardening of the arteries. It is unusual in a 33-year-old man, Donoghue said, but "it is not impossible."

Kile's father died shortly after a heart attack in his mid-40s in 1993.

Dr. Jim Loomis, the Cardinals' assistant team physician, said Saturday that the 6-foot-5 pitcher had no known health problems and was not on medication.

About two hours before Saturday's game against the Cubs was scheduled to begin, Cardinals players realized Kile was not at the ballpark and called the hotel to ask that he be checked on.

Workers at the downtown Westin Hotel forced their way into Kile's 11th-floor room because of the safety latch on the door.

Saturday's game between the Cardinals and Chicago Cubs was postponed. Later that night, the Cardinals unanimously voted at a team meeting to play Sunday night in Kile's honor.

Kile's name and No. 57 were displayed on the marquee outside Wrigley Field and on the scoreboard inside the park Sunday.

The U.S. flag was at half-mast, and all music except the national anthem was canceled. There was to be a moment of silence for Kile before the national anthem.

There were to be no public address announcements during the game except for players coming to bat and lineup changes.

The Cubs also canceled usual festivities such as honorary first pitches and the traditional singing of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."

[Drbio]

I wish the reporter wouldn't have included the bit about the "possible marijuana". It just doesn't belong in this article. If it turns out to be pot, then if you must...report it later. This is just poor taste IMO.

[TheKid]

I didn't think it was in poor taste actually. As a matter of fact, in reading something in the paper today right after marijuana intake your chances of having a heart attack increases by 40%. I don't know all the medical lingo that the article was saying but in this case it turns out that it's very relevant.

Now I understand everyone is sad that Kyle died and I was just as shocked and sad as the next person, but fans want to know why the man died, he was 33 and it scares the shit out of me (29) that someone died so young and it seems to be no real reason why.

Because he seemed to be an upstanding guy no wants to hear about something he may have done that could potentially tarnish the view of him. Because let's say if that were someone like John Rocker or Barry Bonds or even a real wacko like Mike Tyson, the FIRST thing people would be saying is, "it must have been related to drugs." No one would think it was in poor taste if the drugs were mentioned, I wouldn't then and I wouldn't now either because if it was found, then "maybe" it had something to do with his death.

[Drbio]

There is no reason to include it unless there was concrete evidence that it contributed. Otherwise, all it does is embarass the family.

As for the medical issue on marijuana...40%? I would have to see that article and the study that supports it. Marijuana is a depressent. As such, it would not be likely that it would increase the likelihood of heart attacks....especially 40%. Kile died from atherosclerosis. This is familial in nature and is intensified not only by genetics, but by lifestyle such as eating habits. The sad thing...it is preventable. Some of the statin drugs (i.e. atorvastatin, etc) have been shown to significantly reduce risk levels and even reverse what was once thought to be permanent damage. That and diet modification would likely have saved his life. I know guys that had this problem combined with cholesterol levels in the 400-500 range. The statin therapy brought their risk levels down to normal and the cholesterol levels down in the mid 100's. Not only that, but the atherosclerosis was reversed. It's a shame that Kile didn't know this before. It's surprising to me that the clubs medical staff didn't detect it during his annual physicals.

[dallmav]

It was stated in the article that the pot had nothing to do with his death. So It was bad taste to even include it in the article.

[Drbio]

Thanks dallmav. I couldn't agree more. It was awful journalism. There should be a way to fine these morons for dumbass decisions like this.

[reeds]

I agree with the KID. No one can say if the pot had anything to do with the death or not. The fact is- there was POT in the room. Pot COULD have played a role- NO one can say it did or did not.

NOW- if the man had gay porn tapes in the room- that can be left unsaid...

[Murphy3]

didn't the police say that there was no trace of pot in the room?

[Drbio]

They have now murph. The report was a marijuana like substance. It could have been oregano or somesuch. Maybe some herbal tea. Who the hell knows. It was totally uncalled for to include that bullshit in the article.

[TheKid]

Personally I don't even see what the big deal is. Why does it embarrass the family? If it turns out it wasn't marijuana, the MEDIA looks stupid and they're the ones who have egg on their fact NOT the Kile family.

The thing with that is, if it were someone else that was more controverial that died all of a sudden and there was some marijuana "substance" found, no one would think it was in poor taste or think it was embarrassing to the family.

Think about when Hank Gathers died. Here was a good guy, didn't do anything wrong, but the FIRST suspicion was it was drug related. Actually that infuriated his mother because she knew he had health problems. I didn't hear ANYONE EVER say that it was in poor taste for them to mention or speculate before they knew that he was on some sort of drugs. In the end when the cause had NOTHING to do with drugs, who looked stupid the Media.

When there was speculation about Korey Stringer taking some sort of enhancement or all the football players that died last year, ALL PEOPLE DID was assume it was attributable to some sort of substance abuse or these players were taking something, however NO ONE thought that was distasteful? It's what happens, people speculate and if they found something of a marijuana type substance, then nothing is distasteful about it.

Basically I don't have the problem with you but I heard this being said by someone on the radio who was the SAME person when Korey Stringer died said, "well he had to be on something." I guess I want to know why is it OK to speculate for some people but for it to be in POOR TASTE for others? If it's in poor taste for all then, I have no problem with anyone's opinion if they're that way across the board, but I do have a problem with people who have a problem with it for some and not for others.

[Drbio]

Personally I don't even see what the big deal is. Why does it embarrass the family? If it turns out it wasn't marijuana, the MEDIA looks stupid and they're the ones who have egg on their fact NOT the Kile family.



It does embarass the family. National press just reported that your husband/father is a pot head. Turns out it wasn't pot. The problem is that NOONE will report they made an error. Noone will state that their reporter F*cked up and didn't research his/her facts. it contributes absolutely NOTHING to the facts of this unfortunate occurrance.


I didn't take anything personally....your opinion is fine with me as well.

[TheKid]

Well I'll throw another example.. Remember when Michael Irvin was accused of being with Erik Williams having sex with some girl. He said, "when you find out it wasn't me, I want it reported with the same intensity."

Now everyone was laughing saying, we know Michael was there, blah blah blah. Well it turned out Irvin was NO WHERE NEAR the scene of the incident and HE made sure the press printed it. He made sure they recanted their story, because he thought it was important. Now maybe he may not be the best example because he DID F.. up in so many other instances but the media had to eat their words. They were basically trying to insinuate that he was involved in child molestation. However when it turned out he wasn't, it was pointed out.

Also, "IF" Kyle was smoking how does that make him a pot head? Maybe that could be the difference right there. If I were to find out he had marijuana in his system, I don't take that as him being a pot head. I know people who do smoke the stuff occassionally but they are FAR from someone I would call a pot head nor do I think any less of them as people. People who use that stuff occassionally I don't begrudge. Even though it's not legal, I look at it like people who drink responsibly. I don't think any less of them, they just like to have a good time. Also, just because they found it in his system, doesn't mean he had just smoked he could have smoked it a few days ago at a party or something, who knows.

Whatever I'm done with it. The fact is it's a tragedy. I would like to know everything that was involved just from a fan standpoint. If it turns out he was smoking pot and that was part of the cause I would think that was a shame but I most CERTAINLY wouldn't think any less of the man.

[Drbio]

That it was reported gives a stigma. The stigma is that of a pot head. Not that he was an addict or anything. I just don't think it belongs i nthe original story, especially since there was no pot in the room. It is a pathetic reporters attempt at grabing some national bylines.

[Murphy3]

well, mike irvin had a chance to force the media to retract their story.. kile doesn't

[TheKid]

Like I said from where I stand, it doesn't bother me that they said that. It doesn't make me think he was a pot head, it doesn't shed anything NEGATIVE about Daryl Kile in my eyes. However that's just me, from everything I've read and heard, he was a true family man, it's a tragedy at the age of 33 he died but as I said, I would like to know all that was involved but nothing that has been said to this point could or would ever sway my opinion of him.

[Murphy3]

to you, it doesn't..but to millions..it does