Brazil's Lula undergoes emergency surgery for intracranial hemorrhage

By Jorge Antonio Rocha

MEXICO CITY (AA) - President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva underwent an emergency craniotomy operation, Brazilian health authorities reported Tuesday.

The president is said to be in stable condition and recovering in Sao Paulo after two hours of surgery.

The 79-year-old leader was admitted into the Sirio-Libanes Hospital in central Sao Paulo late Monday after he suffered a persistent headache. An MRI showed an intracranial hemorrhage resulting from an accident that occurred in his bathroom, according to a statement.

Lula's medical team asserted at a news conference that the president is stable and speaking and eating normally, with no lasting effects.

"The president progressed well; he arrived from surgery almost fully awake, was extubated, and is now stable. He speaks normally, eats, and will need to be under observation in the coming days," said cardiologist Roberto Kalil.

Lula is expected to return home later this week, although no work-related visits are allowed while he is recovering at the hospital, where he will remain for the next 48 hours.

Although Lula had suffered a blow to the back of his head in the accident two months ago, the hemorrhage was located in the frontal lobe, on the left side of his head, his doctors reported.

The accident required five stitches to Lula’s neck and prompted him to cancel a trip to Russia for the BRICS summit.