Bolsonaro has medical procedure for severe hiccups

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro had a medical intervention on Saturday afternoon at a Brasília hospital to address a case of persistent hiccups.

His medical team reported on Saturday that the procedure, which was successful, involved a blockade of the phrenic nerve. This nerve extends from the neck down to the diaphragm. The Saturday operation targeted the right side. An additional procedure is planned for Monday to apply a similar nerve block on the left side.

Bolsonaro also had an operation on Thursday to correct a hernia resulting from an abdominal stabbing he endured during the 2018 presidential campaign. His doctors stated the surgery was completed without any issues. In a statement released before his Thursday operation, he endorsed his son Flavio’s campaign for the presidency in 2026.

Bolsonaro is presently incarcerated following a conviction by the Supreme Court for his attempts to orchestrate a coup after losing the 2022 election.