Suffered from Hiccups for Nine Months... Phrenic Nerve Identified as the Cause
Sentenced to 27 Years for Coup Plotting Conviction
Jair Bolsonaro, the former President of Brazil who is currently imprisoned on charges of plotting a coup, has reportedly undergone a nerve block procedure to treat persistent hiccups that have lasted for several months.
According to foreign media citing the social media account of his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, he underwent a medical procedure on December 27 (local time) at a hospital to block the phrenic nerve, which controls the diaphragm.
The medical team explained that after Bolsonaro recently underwent inguinal hernia surgery and was hospitalized for additional tests, they determined that the cause of his persistent hiccups was related to stimulation of the phrenic nerve.
The medical staff stated that the procedure involved locating the nerve using ultrasound and injecting a local anesthetic, making it a relatively simple, non-incisional treatment. The procedure on the right phrenic nerve has already been completed, and an additional procedure on the left nerve is planned.
Michelle stated on social media that her husband has suffered from nearly daily hiccups for about nine months. Since sustaining a serious abdominal injury in a stabbing attack during the 2018 presidential campaign, Bolsonaro has undergone several surgeries related to the same area.
After losing the 2022 presidential election, Bolsonaro was convicted of plotting a coup and sentenced to 27 years in prison, where he is currently serving his sentence. At the request of his legal team, and with the approval of Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, he was admitted to a hospital last week for treatment. Once his hospital treatment is complete, he is expected to return to the Federal Police detention center in the capital, Brasilia.
Last November, Bolsonaro requested to serve his sentence under house arrest due to deteriorating health. At the time, his legal team submitted a petition to the Supreme Federal Court for house arrest with electronic monitoring, arguing that incarceration could pose an immediate risk to his physical safety and life. The petition reportedly listed several chronic health issues, including uncontrollable hiccups, sleep apnea, esophagitis, and gastritis.
The legal team also emphasized fairness by citing the precedent of former President Fernando Collor de Mello, who was allowed house arrest after being convicted of corruption. However, the court has maintained a cautious stance on the request, and Bolsonaro has continued to receive treatment under the supervision of correctional authorities.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
