Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is recovering in intensive care after having emergency surgery to drain blood from his brain, a medical note published by the country’s government said.
The leftist politician, known as Lula, had reduced travel in recent months while doctors monitored his recovery from a trauma he suffered to the back of his head after falling at his home in late October.
Mr da Silva was taken to hospital yesterday after he ended a meeting with congressional leaders due to a worsening headache, a source in the presidential office told Reuters.
The 79-year-old had an MRI scan at a hospital in the capital Brasilia.
He was transferred to Sao Paulo, around 620 miles away, overnight for surgery.
The Brazilian president is now recovering well, under monitoring in an ICU (intensive care unit) bed, the hospital said.
Presidential spokesperson Paulo Pimenta has said in a radio interview that Mr da Silva will likely remain in intensive care for another 48 hours, with contact limited to his medical team
“He is stable, conscious and calm,” Mr Pimenta said.
Mr da Silva woke up early on Tuesday as the anaesthesia wore off before going back to sleep, according to the presidential aide.
The Brazilian president was treated in hospital in Sao Paolo. Pic: Reuters
In an update at 9am local time (12pm UK time) today, a doctor said Mr da Silva is speaking and eating normally following the surgery.
They added that the Brazilian president had no brain injury and should return to the capital next week “if everything goes well”.
Geraldo Alckmin, Brazil’s vice president, cancelled plans in Sao Paulo today to return to the capital, according to his aide.
Mr Alckmin will now assume Mr da Silva’s agenda, including a visit from Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Read more world news:
Russian spy chief claims Ukraine ‘close to collapse’
Netanyahu to take stand in his corruption trial
Gang ‘massacres 180 people over witchcraft fears’
Tests in early November after Mr da Silva’s fall showed his condition was stable and he remained active. He recently travelled to Montevideo in Uruguay to discuss a trade deal.
However, the Brazilian president did have to cancel a trip to Russia for a summit of the BRICS group of major emerging markets which was held in Kazan in October.
The decision followed medical advice to temporarily avoid long-haul flights.