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Bolsonaro receives second phrenic nerve block in three days
Brazil's imprisoned former president, Jair Bolsonaro, has undergone a second medical intervention to address persistent hiccups, his doctors confirmed on Monday.
Medical details of the procedure
Physicians performed a phrenic nerve block on Bolsonaro's left side, following a similar procedure on his right phrenic nerve on Saturday. The phrenic nerve, located in the neck, plays a critical role in diaphragm movement and breathing.
Dr. Claudio Birolini, part of Bolsonaro's medical team, stated that the former leader's condition remains stable after the latest intervention. He added that hospitalization is not expected to extend significantly.
Recent health complications
The 70-year-old former president has faced multiple health challenges in recent months. On Christmas Day, he underwent surgery to repair a double hernia, a procedure his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, described as successful. Bolsonaro had also undergone intestinal surgery in April.
Michelle Bolsonaro revealed that her husband had endured nine months of daily hiccups, calling the experience a period of "struggle and anguish."
Legal and political context
Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for his role in plotting a coup to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election, which he lost to left-wing rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Brazil's Supreme Court authorized his transfer from federal police headquarters in Brasília to a hospital for the hernia surgery. His medical team indicated that if his recovery proceeds smoothly, he is expected to be discharged on January 1.
Political future
Despite his incarceration, Bolsonaro has endorsed his son, Flávio Bolsonaro, as a candidate to challenge Lula in the 2026 presidential election.
"It's been nine months of struggle and anguish with daily hiccups."
Michelle Bolsonaro, wife of Jair Bolsonaro
