Brazilian President Lula undergoes surgery for intracranial hemorrhage: a detailed account

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, aged 79, underwent surgery on Monday, October 9, in São Paulo for an intracranial hemorrhage, the Sírio-Libanês hospital announced on Tuesday through an official statement shared on the president’s social media channels.

A successful surgical procedure

The intracranial hemorrhage, linked to a fall on October 19, required a craniotomy, a surgical procedure involving the temporary removal of part of the skull to access the brain. According to medical reports, the operation was carried out without complications. Lula’s condition is described as stable, though he remains under observation in an intensive care unit.

Circumstances of the accident

On October 19, Lula suffered a domestic accident in his bathroom while seated on a bench preparing for a trip to Russia. He reportedly fell backward, hitting the back of his head severely. As a result, he was forced to cancel his planned attendance at the BRICS summit in Kazan, which he instead participated in virtually following medical advice.

In a subsequent phone conversation, Lula himself described the accident as “serious”:

“I’m fine. I had an accident, but it was my fault. It was serious, but fortunately, it didn’t affect any sensitive areas.”

Recovery under close monitoring

This recent surgery represents a significant step in Lula’s recovery. The president, re-elected in 2022 for a third term after serving as Brazil’s leader from 2003 to 2011, has been under close medical observation since the incident. Following his initial hospital admission in October, doctors identified a “blunt injury to the back of the head” and recommended strict rest.

Lula also expressed his concerns during the recovery process:

“Anything involving the head is delicate. The doctors insisted that I wait a few days to properly assess the damage.”

The president, a symbol of remarkable political resilience, continues his recovery with the support of his family and under the watchful care of health professionals.