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 the hospital for the hernia surgery. The medical team determined it was necessary to address the recurrent hiccups following the successful hernia surgery.

Hiccups 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. Potential causes of chronic hiccups range from nerve irritation to gastrointestinal disorders.

While the specific treatment Bolsonaro received for his hiccups was not disclosed, treatments for persistent hiccups can vary widely. Dr. Birolini clarified that the procedure was not surgical.

Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after his loss to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the 2022 presidential election. Prior to his hernia surgery, Bolsonaro endorsed his son, Flávio, as a potential candidate against Lula in the 2026 presidential election. This endorsement was conveyed in a handwritten letter read by Flávio Bolsonaro outside the hospital.