Bolsonaro’s operation is expected to last up to four hours and hospitalization could last a week

The schedule provides that this Wednesday will be devoted to clinical examinations. The operation is scheduled for Thursday morning, Christmas Day, and is expected to last between three and four hours.

This will be the seventh operation carried out by the former president since 2018, when he was the victim of a stabbing during the campaign during which he was elected President of the Republic. All surgical procedures were performed following this injury.

Preparation and performance of the surgical procedure

• Before the operation, Bolsonaro will undergo a battery of clinical and laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis, assess general health and reduce risks during the procedure. This stage includes cardiological and anesthetic evaluations, as well as medication adjustments and clinical preparation necessary for the procedure.
• The procedure to be carried out this Thursday is considered simpler than the one carried out in April, when Bolsonaro underwent surgery to unblock part of his intestine. At the time, the procedure was considered “major” to remove so-called “adhesions” from the organ and reconstruct the abdominal wall. The operation lasted approximately 12 hours.

What is bilateral inguinal hernia surgery?

• A bilateral inguinal hernia occurs when part of the intestine protrudes through weakened points in the abdominal wall in the groin.
• The surgical procedure aims to reposition the abdominal contents and strengthen the local muscles, thereby reducing the risk of pain, complications and new bulges.
• The procedure will be carried out under general anesthesia, with continuous monitoring of vital functions.

Understanding Phrenic Nerve Block

• The medical team is evaluating when to perform an anesthetic phrenic nerve block, a procedure that could be indicated to reduce the persistent hiccups experienced by Bolsonaro in recent months.
• The phrenic nerve is responsible for stimulating the diaphragm, a muscle essential for breathing. The blockade seeks to interrupt abnormal neurological stimuli that cause involuntary contractions. The most appropriate time for this intervention has not yet been defined.

After the operation, Bolsonaro will be under strict pain control, using adequate analgesia and continuous monitoring. Recovery includes physiotherapy sessions aimed at early mobilization and improvement of respiratory function, as well as preventive measures against thrombotic events, such as deep vein thrombosis.

The medical team anticipates that the former president will remain hospitalized for between five and seven days, a period considered necessary for analgesia, physiotherapy, prevention of complications and clinical observation, taking into account the particularities of the case and the history of abdominal operations.

Bolsonaro’s defense asked the STF that he be hospitalized on the 24th for preparatory examinations, and operated on the next day. The request was analyzed by Moraes, who authorized the hospitalization after a technical declaration. The minister stressed that Bolsonaro maintains “complete health treatment conditions” at the Superintendence of the Federal Police of the Federal District, a unit considered close to the hospital where he will be treated.

Although he recognized the medical indication, Moraes considered the operation to be elective and not urgent. An expert from the Federal Police stressed that the intervention should take place “as soon as possible”, but without qualifying it as an immediate emergency.

Bolsonaro is serving a prison sentence of 27 years and three months after being convicted by the STF of attempted coup. In the decision, Moraes emphasized that the authorization of hospitalization does not interfere with the execution of the sentence.