✓ verbatim from the press ? no verbatim passage
Chief Raoni Metuktire, 94, underwent intestinal obstruction surgery on Saturday (20) at Hospital São Paulo (Unifesp) in São Paulo, and remains in the ICU in serious but stable condition. According to a medical bulletin released by the hospital, the procedure was completed "without complications" — but the continued ICU stay reflects the severity of the condition in a nonagenarian patient with intestinal obstruction, dehydration, and aspiration pneumonia. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"O Hospital São Paulo (HSP/Unifesp) afirmou que o cacique Raoni Metyktire passou por uma cirurgia de desobstrução intestinal na tarde deste sábado, com técnica minimamente invasiva, para normalização do trânsito intestinal. De acordo com os médicos, o procedimento ocorreu "sem complicações"."
Raoni was transferred on Friday (19) at 11:30 from Hospital Dois Pinheiros in Sinop (MT) to São Paulo. According to Agência Brasil, he arrived at the ICU "breathing spontaneously, without the need for mechanical ventilatory support," treated with antibiotic therapy and intravenous parenteral nutrition. The respiratory condition began on Saturday (13), when he had episodes of vomiting at home in the Peixoto de Azevedo region (MT); on Sunday (14) he had three new episodes of vomiting and was admitted in Sinop with pulmonary sepsis associated with aspiration pneumonia, according to Folha. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"O cacique apresenta quadro de obstrução intestinal, desidratação e pneumonia aspirativa e é tratado com antibioticoterapia e tratamento de suporte clínico. Apesar disso, ele respira espontaneamente, sem necessidade de suporte ventilatório mecânico, e recebe alimentação por meio de nutrição parenteral, que é administrada por via intravenosa. Raoni foi transferido, às 11h30 desta sexta-feira (19), do Hospital e Maternidade Dois Pinheiros, em Sinop, no norte de Mato Grosso, para a unidade hospitalar da Escola Paulista de Medicina da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp)."
"Raoni estava internado em Sinop desde domingo (14), após ser diagnosticado com sepse pulmonar associada a uma pneumonia broncoaspirativa. Ele havia apresentado sintomas no sábado (13), quando registrou episódios de vômito em sua residência, na região de Peixoto de Azevedo (MT). No dia seguinte, apresentou três novos episódios de vômito, além de tosse persistente, dor abdominal e eliminação de pequena quantidade de sangue pela boca"
This is Raoni's third hospitalization in 2026. In early May, he spent five days at the same hospital in Sinop to treat abdominal pain related to a hernia; on May 14 he was hospitalized again for clinical malaise with respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions, according to Folha. The aspiration pneumonia diagnosed now occurred after the recurrent vomiting — a common complication when gastric content reaches the lungs. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Raoni havia sido internado novamente na última quinta-feira (14), após apresentar um novo mal-estar clínico. No início de maio, ele já havia passado cinco dias no mesmo hospital para tratar dores abdominais relacionadas a uma hérnia."
Clinical studies on abdominal surgery in nonagenarians show the magnitude of the risk. In a Canadian study with 145 patients aged 90+ years undergoing abdominal surgery, intestinal obstruction had the highest in-hospital mortality rate (42.3%), compared to 15.2% overall mortality in the group. Emergency abdominal surgeries in nonagenarians required ICU admission in 44.4% of cases and recorded one-year mortality of 49.1%, compared to 11.0% ICU admission and 27.8% mortality in elective surgeries, according to the Canadian Journal of Surgery. ?
Press quotes (2)
"The operative indications and procedures associated with the highest in-hospital mortality were large bowel obstruction (42.3%) and bowel resection with anastomosis (27.0%). Overall in-hospital mortality was 15.2% (20.8% in the emergent group and 9.6% in the elective group)"
"The 1-year mortality (49.1% v. 27.8%; p = 0.016), complication (81.9% v. 61.6%; p = 0.007) and intensive care unit admission rates (44.4% v. 11.0%; p < 0.001) were significantly higher among emergent than elective surgical patients."
Raoni Metuktire was born in 1932 in the village of Krajmopyjakare (now Kapôt), in Kayapó territory, according to Kayapo.org. He has been one of Brazil's leading indigenous leaders since the 1950s, internationally recognized for his defense of the Amazon — he campaigned against the Belo Monte dam, spoke at the UN, and in 2024 delivered a letter to Pope Francis on climate change. In 2025 he received from President Lula the title of Grand Master of the National Order of Merit, the country's highest honor. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Chief Raoni Metuktire, also known simply as Chief Raoni or Ropni, was born in 1932 in the village of Krajmopyjakare (now known as Kapôt), deep in Kayapo territory."
"Raoni é uma das principais lideranças indígenas do Brasil. Iniciou a luta ainda nos anos 50 e foi uma voz importante para o reconhecimento dos direitos dos povos indígenas na Constituição de 1988. Ganhou projeção internacional acompanhando o cantor Sting. Entre suas ações mais recentes, em 2024, o líder entregou uma carta ao Papa Francisco para alertar sobre as mudanças e catástrofes climáticas."
Raoni Metuktire was transferred from Sinop (MT) to São Paulo on Friday (19) and underwent intestinal obstruction surgery on Saturday (20) at Hospital São Paulo (Unifesp).
Raoni's clinical condition included intestinal obstruction, dehydration, and aspiration pneumonia at the time of transfer.
The surgery was performed using minimally invasive technique and, according to doctors, occurred without complications.
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (4)
Raoni was born in 1932, making him 94 years old in June 2026.
Aspiration pneumonia was diagnosed after episodes of vomiting beginning Saturday (13) and continuing Sunday (14), when Raoni was admitted in Sinop with pulmonary sepsis.
Raoni had three hospitalizations in 2026: in May for abdominal hernia (five days), on May 14 for clinical malaise, and in June for intestinal obstruction.
Care in São Paulo is led by Dr. Franz Robert Apodaca Torrez, surgeon and professor at Unifesp, in coordination with Dr. Douglas Antônio Rodrigues, who has monitored Raoni for decades.
Conflicting versions (1)
Raoni Metuktire's age in June 2026
-
What is the specific post-surgical prognosis for Raoni, considering age and comorbidities?
Why it's still unknown: Medical bulletins state the surgery was completed without complications, but do not detail expected ICU discharge timeline, recovery period, or specific clinical criteria to consider the condition stabilized given the patient's risk profile (94 years old, three hospitalizations in two months, active aspiration pneumonia).
-
Does the hernia diagnosed in May 2026 have a causal relationship with the intestinal obstruction operated on in June?
Why it's still unknown: Folha reported that the first hospitalization in May was to treat abdominal pain related to a hernia, but no source explains whether the current intestinal obstruction stems from the same hernial condition or is an independent occurrence.
-
Did Raoni maintain an active public agenda in 2026 before the hospitalizations or was his role primarily symbolic?
Why it's still unknown: Sources detail his historical trajectory and mention 2024 actions (letter to the Pope), but none describe public activities in 2025 or 2026 prior to the hospitalizations, making it impossible to assess whether the health-related absence alters an active agenda or interrupts a period of lower exposure.