Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 79, underwent emergency surgery Tuesday to drain bleeding on his brain, according to a medical note published on his official social media accounts.
The procedure at Sírio-Libanês hospital in Sao Paulo followed an MRI scan Monday in Brasilia that revealed an intracranial hemorrhage. Doctors successfully completed the surgery, and Lula is “well” while being monitored in intensive care, the medical statement confirmed.
Medical staff believe the hemorrhage may be connected to an incident earlier this year when Lula fell at home, sustaining a visible cut on the back of his head near his neck. That injury had forced him to cancel his planned attendance at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia.
Labor Minister Luiz Marinho offered public support Tuesday morning, wishing the president a swift recovery on social media. Hospital officials plan to provide additional details at a news conference later Tuesday.
