Former President Jair Bolsonaro's bilateral inguinal hernia surgery on December 25 at DF Star Hospital in Brasília concluded successfully after 3.5 hours, with no incidents. Following his December 24 admission under STF-authorized police watch, he now enters post-op recovery, potentially needing a phrenic nerve block for persistent hiccups linked to esophagitis.
Building on his hospital admission the previous day for pre-op evaluations amid strict Federal Police surveillance, Bolsonaro underwent his eighth surgery since the 2018 stabbing—correcting bilateral inguinal hernias—starting around 9 a.m. and ending near 1 p.m. under general anesthesia.
The medical bulletin confirms the procedure met expectations. Post-op care includes analgesia, physiotherapy, and thrombosis prevention; he is slated for 5-7 days of hospitalization before returning to Federal Police custody in Brasília, where he has been since November 22 serving a 27-year sentence for an attempted coup.
Surgeon Cláudio Birolini noted plans to monitor hiccups, possibly performing an anesthetic block of the phrenic nerve on Monday if medications fail, due to severe esophagitis.
Security remains tight with 24-hour PF guards, no electronics, and visits restricted to wife Michelle and sons Flávio, Carlos, Jair Renan, plus daughter Laura. Michelle posted: “Surgery completed successfully! No incidents. Now awaiting anesthesia recovery.” Flávio read a letter from Bolsonaro at the hospital endorsing his 2026 pre-candidacy, amid right-wing tensions.
