What you need to know about surgery and recovery

After experiencing severe headaches and discomfort on the 9th, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) underwent emergency surgery in São Paulo. He remains hospitalized at Hospital Sírio-Libanês with a stable clinical condition.

Lula was transferred to São Paulo after feeling unwell in Brasília. The Sírio-Libanês hospital released a medical bulletin stating that the president was admitted to the hospital in Brasília for an imaging test after experiencing discomfort. The results of the examination showed an intracranial hemorrhage due to the fall he suffered in October.

The president was transferred to the São Paulo unit, where he underwent a craniotomy to drain a hematoma. The surgery went well and Lula is being monitored in the ICU bed. Lula had not been feeling well since the previous day, according to people close to the president.

Even though he was lucid, he felt sleepy and unwell. But he fulfilled all his commitments. “However, it was on the last agenda that he really gave himself away”said a source who was at the presidential candidate's side throughout the day. Once in his office, even though he refused, Lula was convinced and went straight to the hospital.

During the journey, Lula remained awake, calm and preferred silence. The presidential plane had ICU items, but they were not used. Few people accompanied the president on the trip, first lady Janja da Silva, security guards and a medical team including a neurosurgeon.

How is craniotomy performed?

In some cases, the patient undergoes general anesthesia, but the patient may also remain awake during surgery, as the surgery affects some parts of the brain that are related to speech and movement.

The surgical intervention in which a small hole is made in the patient's skull is called trepanation. Soon after, a drain is placed to remove the hematoma. It is a major surgical procedure to remove part of the cranial bone to gain access to the brain. This type of surgery is to treat various neurological conditions such as hemorrhages, traumatic injuries, among others. In the president's case, this procedure was done to drain the hematoma.

Recovery time depends on the complexity of each surgery. In general, initial recovery can take weeks, experts explain that rehabilitation is extremely important to restore motor and cognitive functions.

Medical bulletin

The medical bulletin initially released reported that Lula had had a craniotomy. But, during the press conference by the medical team monitoring the president, the term was adjusted to trepanation.

Mauro Suzuki, a neurosurgeon who participated in the press conference, said: “It’s not that it’s wrong (the term craniotomy), it’s just that we generally use this term for larger openings.”.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) did not have any bruises or brain injuries as a result of the surgery. According to the doctor, the hematoma was completely drained.

According to the medical team accompanying Lula, he may return to Brasília at the beginning of next week. Despite this, doctors did not give a deadline for hospital discharge.

The fall

Almost two months ago, Lula took a fall in the bathroom of the Palácio da Alvorada, the official residence of the Presidency. According to the president himself, he was sitting on a bench to cut his toenails, lost his balance, fell and hit his head on a corner, causing a lot of bleeding from the wound.

Lula and first lady Janja da Silva were preparing for an official trip to Russia to participate in the BRICS summit when the accident occurred on a Saturday night. Lula received stitches on the back of his head at the Hospital Sírio-Libanês in Brasília, the president had to undergo further tests the following day, as a result, the trip to Russia and other commitments were cancelled.

Featured photo: President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Reproduction/Instagram/@lulaoficial)