Bolsonaro Undergoes Second Phrenic Nerve Block After Overnight Hiccup Relapse

Overview

• The left-side phrenic nerve block was completed on Monday at Hospital DF Star in Brasília, following a right-side block performed on Saturday.
• Medical bulletins reported a prolonged bout of hiccups overnight into Sunday with elevated blood pressure; he was later described as stable without hiccups.
• Bolsonaro remains hospitalized in post-operative care after bilateral inguinal hernia repair on December 25, with an expected stay of five to seven days.
• Doctors say the blocks were staged rather than simultaneous because dual blockage can risk respiratory complications, and the ultrasound-guided technique is minimally invasive and temporary.
• His hospital stay was authorized by Supreme Court minister Alexandre de Moraes as he serves a prison sentence, with family members sharing updates on his symptoms and recovery.