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Brazil’s imprisoned former President Jair Bolsonaro underwent a second medical procedure on Monday to treat persistent hiccups, marking the latest development in a series of health issues faced by the controversial leader. Doctors at DF Star hospital in Brasilia performed a phrenic nerve block procedure to block his left phrenic nerve, just two days after a similar surgery was conducted on the right side.
According to medical experts, the phrenic nerve is a critical nerve that originates in the neck and controls the diaphragm, the primary muscle responsible for breathing. Persistent hiccups can sometimes be linked to irritation or dysfunction of this nerve, making targeted nerve block procedures a viable treatment option in severe cases.
The surgery lasted approximately one hour and concluded around 3 p.m. local time (1800 GMT). Former First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro shared updates about the procedure on social media, confirming that the operation was completed successfully. Doctors speaking to journalists later said Bolsonaro’s condition remains stable, and he is expected to be discharged from the hospital on January 1 if his recovery continues without complications. Medical staff will closely monitor his condition over the next 48 hours.
Bolsonaro, who is 70 years old, was initially hospitalized last Wednesday for hernia surgery, which took place on Christmas Day. During his hospital stay, doctors decided to address his ongoing hiccups, which reportedly have been persistent and disruptive. These health problems add to a long history of medical complications stemming from a stabbing attack Bolsonaro suffered during a 2018 presidential campaign event in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais.
The former president is currently serving a prison sentence of more than 27 years after being convicted by Brazil’s Supreme Court in September for plotting a coup to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election. He began serving his sentence last month but was granted temporary authorization by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to leave prison for the hernia surgery.
As Bolsonaro continues his recovery under medical supervision, his case remains closely watched, both for its legal implications and the ongoing concerns surrounding his health.
