Bolsonaro Undergoes Medical Procedure for Persistent Hiccups
Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has recently undergone a medical procedure aimed at alleviating persistent hiccups that have troubled him for several months. The 70-year-old ex-president, who is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for his involvement in an attempted coup, was temporarily released from detention for this medical intervention.
Prior to the procedure for his hiccups, Bolsonaro had been admitted to the DF Star Hospital in Brasilia for surgery to address a groin hernia. This hernia surgery was successfully performed on Thursday and proceeded without any complications. Following the operation, he remained hospitalised for a period of observation and evaluation by his medical team.
It was during this hospital stay that Bolsonaro’s doctors identified the need for an anesthetic block of the phrenic nerve, a crucial nerve responsible for controlling the diaphragm. This intervention was deemed necessary to combat the recurring and disruptive hiccups.
The Phrenic Nerve Block Procedure
Dr. Claudio Birolini, one of Bolsonaro’s physicians, explained the procedure to reporters. He detailed that the process involved precisely locating the phrenic nerve using ultrasound technology. Once the nerve was identified, a local analgesic was injected to block its activity.
Another member of the medical team, Dr. Mateus Saldanha, confirmed that the procedure conducted on Saturday “went well.” Dr. Birolini further elaborated that the entire process took approximately one hour and emphasized that it was not a surgical procedure, meaning it did not involve any incisions.
The initial treatment focused on the right side of the phrenic nerve. A subsequent procedure to address the left side of the nerve has been scheduled for Monday.
Months of Discomfort and Anguish
The former first lady, Michelle Bolsonaro, shared her husband’s struggle in an Instagram post on Saturday. She revealed that her husband had gone to the surgical centre for the phrenic nerve block, describing the situation as “nine months of struggle and anguish with daily hiccups.”
Bolsonaro, a prominent figure of the far-right who served as president from 2019 to 2022, has a history of health issues stemming from an abdominal stab wound he sustained during a campaign rally in 2018. This incident necessitated several significant surgeries over the years.
Legal Ramifications and Ongoing Investigations
The medical procedures come in the wake of serious legal developments. In September, Brazil’s Supreme Court found Bolsonaro guilty of conspiring to remain in power following his electoral defeat in 2022 to current president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. This conviction resulted in a 27-year prison sentence. The court determined that the coup attempt failed due to insufficient backing from key military leaders.
Bolsonaro has consistently maintained his innocence, asserting that he is being unfairly targeted by the Supreme Court. He was held under house arrest from August until his formal imprisonment on November 22. Upon his discharge from the hospital, he is expected to return to serving his sentence at a federal police facility in the capital.
Adding to the ongoing legal scrutiny, the Supreme Court also issued an order for house arrest on Saturday concerning ten officials from Bolsonaro’s administration. These individuals were implicated in the planning of the coup plot, the search for legal justifications, or the dissemination of disinformation across social media platforms. While these officials had been convicted, they were out of prison pending the resolution of their appeals. One of these officials, Silvinei Vasques, was reportedly detained in Paraguay on Friday after allegedly attempting to depart the country using fraudulent travel documents.
