Paraguay’s Lugo travels to Brazil for emergency treatment; doctors say he won’t need surgery

Doctors: Paraguay’s Lugo won’t require surgery

ASUNCION, Paraguay — President Fernando Lugo, who is fighting cancer, does not require surgery, doctors said Saturday after the Paraguayan leader was flown to Brazil for emergency treatment of an apparent infection.

Doctors had said Lugo would likely have a build up of fluids caused by infection drained from his neck. The surgery would take place at Sao Paulo’s Hospital Sirio Libanes, where he has been undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Lugo left his No. 2, Vice President Federico Franco, in charge of Paraguay in his absence.

But later Saturday the Hospital Sirio Libanes issued a report saying it was not an infection.

“The studies show that he doesn’t require surgery; a thrombosis (blood clot) was detected in his superior vena cava, something that can happen during cancer treatment,” said Augusto Dos Santos, the communications director for Paraguay’s government palace, citing the hospital report.

Dos Santos added that the diagnosis does not represent a worsening in Lugo’s lymphoma but rather a complication in his treatment.

He said a new report on Lugo’s health would be released Sunday.

Lugo, a 59-year-old former Roman Catholic priest, is being treated for what doctors have described as three apparently low-grade lymphoma — in the groin, chest and the third lumbar vertebra.