Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro is expected to leave hospital after a seven‑day stay, with his medical team saying treatment for persistent hiccups will continue on an outpatient basis and will be primarily pharmacological.
Bolsonaro has been recovering at the DF Star Hospital in Brasília following a bilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy carried out by conventional surgery. Hospital bulletins described a satisfactory post‑operative course after four procedures during the admission, and the patient is scheduled for discharge on Thursday morning.
Doctors reported improvement in the hiccups that prompted further investigation during the stay. Additional tests included an upper digestive endoscopy that revealed ongoing oesophagitis and gastritis. The team said they would treat Bolsonaro’s gastro‑oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and continue respiratory physiotherapy, night‑time continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for newly diagnosed severe sleep apnoea, and thrombo‑prophylactic measures.
Bolsonaro health update and treatment outlook
During the admission clinicians performed bilateral phrenic nerve blocks in an attempt to control the persistent hiccups. The blocks reduced the intensity of episodes but did not abolish them, leading specialists to conclude the stimulus likely originates in the central nervous system rather than below the neck. For that reason the team said medication would be the principal strategy going forward, while non‑drug alternatives would remain under consideration.
“The bilateral block decreased the intensity of the hiccups but did not stop the condition,” the medical team said. “This suggests the stimulus does not come from the neck downwards but probably from the central nervous system, so management must be mainly medicinal.”
Consultant Brasil Caiado described the presentation as very rare, using the term persistent or intractable hiccups. He noted such cases often arise secondary to other conditions, most commonly after abdominal surgery, problems of the gastrointestinal tract — which Bolsonaro has — or neurological disorders.
In addition to targeted treatment for reflux and gastric inflammation, Bolsonaro will continue physiotherapy for respiratory support and nightly CPAP after the diagnosis of severe sleep apnoea. The medical team highlighted the importance of strict adherence to CPAP to reduce respiratory risk. Preventive measures against thrombosis will also remain part of his outpatient plan.
Clinicians recorded emotional fluctuations during the hospital stay, with the ex‑president experiencing worsening mood during prolonged bouts of hiccups. That prompted adjustments to his supportive emotional medication during treatment.
After discharge Bolsonaro will be followed in an ambulatory setting, where physicians will monitor his response to medication for the hiccups and manage his reflux disease and sleep apnoea. The team stressed the need for careful care outside hospital, particularly with continuous night‑time CPAP use and measures to prevent falls and other avoidable risks.
While the condition of persistent hiccups is uncommon, the medical team said the combination of recent abdominal surgery, ongoing gastrointestinal disease and possible central nervous system involvement make ongoing multidisciplinary follow‑up essential to manage symptoms and support recovery.
Key Takeaways:
- Former president Jair Bolsonaro is due to be discharged after seven days in hospital but will continue outpatient care and medication.
- Doctors report persistent, likely central-origin hiccups controlled partly by phrenic nerve blocks and now managed primarily with medication.
- Investigations found esophagitis and gastritis; treatment includes reflux management, CPAP for severe sleep apnoea and thrombosis prevention.
- Medical team stresses strict follow-up and night-time CPAP use to reduce risks after discharge.
