Brazil's former president, Jair Bolsonaro, underwent a medical procedure Saturday to address chronic hiccups, according to his medical team. The procedure, which lasted approximately one hour, "went well," according to Dr. Claudio Birolini, a member of Bolsonaro's medical team, who emphasized that it was not a surgery.
The treatment for hiccups followed a surgery earlier in the week to repair a double hernia. Bolsonaro, 70, was granted permission to be transferred to a hospital for the hernia surgery.
Hiccups, medically known as singultus, are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm muscle, which separates the chest from the abdomen and plays a crucial role in breathing. Each contraction is followed by a sudden closure of the vocal cords, producing the characteristic "hic" sound. While most cases of hiccups are temporary and resolve on their own, persistent or chronic hiccups can be a sign of an underlying medical condition.
According to medical experts, chronic hiccups can be caused by a variety of factors, including nerve irritation, gastrointestinal issues, central nervous system disorders, or even certain medications. In rare cases, they may indicate a more serious underlying condition.
"Persistent hiccups can significantly impact a person's quality of life, interfering with eating, sleeping, and even speaking," explained Dr. Maria Rodriguez, a gastroenterologist not involved in Bolsonaro's care. "When hiccups last for more than 48 hours, it's important to seek medical evaluation to determine the cause and explore treatment options."
Treatment for chronic hiccups varies depending on the underlying cause. Options may include medication to relax the diaphragm, nerve blocks, or, in some cases, surgical intervention. The specific procedure Bolsonaro underwent was not disclosed by his medical team.
Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 presidential election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Prior to his hernia surgery, Bolsonaro endorsed his son, Flávio, as a potential candidate against Lula in the 2026 presidential election. His statement was conveyed in a handwritten letter read by Flávio outside the hospital. Following the hernia surgery, his medical team determined it was necessary to address Bolsonaro's recurrent hiccups, which he had been experiencing. The current status of Bolsonaro's recovery from both the hernia surgery and the hiccup treatment remains to be seen.
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