Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is scheduled for a follow-up surgery to address the risk of further cranial bleeding, his doctor announced on Wednesday. The 79-year-old leader, who recently underwent emergency surgery for a cranial hemorrhage, is being treated at the Hospital Sírio-Libanês in São Paulo.
Lula’s physician, Roberto Kalil, shared that the upcoming surgery is a routine follow-up to an emergency procedure performed earlier this week. The procedure aims to reduce the likelihood of future bleeding in the area under his skull. The hospital described the treatment as “complementary” and confirmed that an endovascular embolization will be carried out to treat the middle meningeal artery.
Following the initial emergency surgery on Tuesday, doctors performed a trepanation, a procedure to relieve pressure on Lula’s brain caused by bleeding between his brain and the dura mater membrane. The bleeding was linked to a fall the president had in October at the presidential residence.
Since the surgery, the hospital has reported that Lula is alert, progressing well, and has participated in physiotherapy. He also walked and received family visits during his recovery.
Doctors have reassured the public that Lula did not suffer any brain damage during the incident. He will remain in intensive care for a few days and is expected to be released next week.
The fall, which occurred on October 19, was initially described by Lula as “serious.” Despite the accident, he resumed his busy schedule in mid-November, including hosting the G20 summit in Rio and attending the Mercosur summit in Uruguay last week.
