- 12-hour surgery addresses intestinal blockage from 2018 assassination attempt injuries
- Medical team anticipates extended ICU stay with no discharge before weekend
- Procedure marks sixth abdominal operation since stabbing incident
- Recovery timeline complicates upcoming Supreme Court coup attempt trial
Brazilian medical authorities confirmed Monday that former President Jair Bolsonaro remains under intensive monitoring following an extensive 12-hour operation to resolve bowel obstruction complications. The controversial leader's latest health crisis traces directly to lingering damage from his near-fatal 2018 campaign trail stabbing, which has necessitated multiple reconstructive surgeries over five years.
Dr. Cláudio Birolini, lead surgeon at Brasilia's DF Star Hospital, revealed during a press briefing that Bolsonaro reported persistent abdominal discomfort since late December. The stabbing created a domino effect of surgical interventions,Birolini explained. Each procedure modifies abdominal anatomy, increasing risks of future complications.Despite the operation's duration, medical staff reported no intraoperative complications.
Cardiologist Leandro Echenique emphasized the surgery's complexity during postoperative remarks: This represents Bolsonaro's most challenging procedure since the initial life-saving interventions. The adhesions and scar tissue required meticulous dissection.Recovery protocols now focus on preventing infection and managing pain in what doctors describe as a high-riskpostoperative phase.
The timing proves particularly sensitive as Bolsonaro faces Supreme Court proceedings over alleged election interference. Legal analysts suggest prolonged hospitalization could delay trial preparations, potentially affecting Brazil's political stability. Health Minister Nísia Trindade announced new protocols for presidential security details following the incident, citing lessons from Bolsonaro's medical history.
Regional comparisons emerge with other LATAM leaders facing health crises. Like Venezuela's Hugo Chávez and Argentina's Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Bolsonaro's physical condition now intersects with judicial processes - a pattern raising concerns about medical transparency in politically charged environments.
Economic analysts estimate Bolsonaro's cumulative medical costs at $2.3 million since 2018, with taxpayers covering 72% through presidential healthcare entitlements. Hospital administration records show 14 emergency admissions during his presidency, averaging 38-hour stays per incident.
As supporters gather outside the Brasilia medical facility, security forces maintain heightened alert status. The former president's social media accounts released a brief statement Tuesday: Grateful to medical teams. We trust in God's plan.Family members have requested privacy during recovery, though political allies continue framing the health battle as persecution narrative ahead of 2026 elections.
