Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is recovering well after undergoing surgery to address a brain bleed, according to his medical team.
The 79-year-old leader was hospitalized in Brasília on Monday after experiencing a severe headache.
An MRI scan revealed an intracranial hemorrhage caused by a blow to the head sustained during a fall in his bathroom at the Alvorada Palace in October.
Lula was transferred to the Sírio-Libanês Hospital in São Paulo, where doctors performed a craniotomy a procedure that involves temporarily removing a portion of the skull to drain the bleed and relieve pressure on the brain.
The bone was then successfully replaced, and doctors confirmed there were no complications during the surgery.
Currently under observation in the intensive care unit, Lula is reported to be in stable condition and recovering well.
The fall occurred on October 19, when Lula slipped in the bathroom, hitting the back of his head.
He required five stitches and subsequently canceled a scheduled trip to Russia for the BRICS summit on medical advice.
However, he resumed his duties a few days later.
Lula, who took office on January 1, 2023, following a closely contested election against Jair Bolsonaro, often joked during his campaign about having “the energy of a 30-year-old.”
The president’s medical team has assured the public that his recovery is progressing as expected, and he will continue to be closely monitored in the coming days.
