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 surgical intervention.

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 symptom of an underlying medical condition or a side effect of certain medications.

According to medical experts, chronic hiccups can be caused by a variety of factors, including nerve irritation, gastrointestinal issues, or central nervous system disorders. Treatment options range from simple home remedies, such as holding one's breath or drinking water rapidly, to medications or, in rare cases, more invasive procedures. The specific type of treatment depends on the underlying cause and severity of the hiccups.

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 endorsement was conveyed through a handwritten letter read by Flávio Bolsonaro outside the hospital. Following the successful hernia surgery, his medical team determined it was necessary to address Bolsonaro's recurrent hiccups, from which he had been suffering.