Senegal is poised to take a historic step in the field of interventional cardiology. The cardiovascular medicine department of Dakar's Principal Hospital will perform, on Monday, December 8, 2025, the first two transcatheter aortic valve implantations (TAVI) ever carried out in Senegal and West Africa.

"This major advance marks a turning point for the management of cardiovascular diseases in the sub-region, where interventions of this type were previously only accessible abroad," states an official document from the hospital structure.

 

An innovation that strengthens the national supply of specialist care

 

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a cutting-edge technique that allows for the replacement of a failing aortic valve without open-heart surgery. Thanks to a minimally invasive incision and the use of catheters, this method significantly reduces surgical risks, particularly in elderly or frail patients.

According to Lieutenant-Colonel Mouhamed Chérif Mboup, head of the Cardiology Department at the Principal Hospital, this intervention represents "a huge qualitative leap for Senegalese cardiology and a hope for hundreds of patients suffering from severe aortic stenosis."

 

A scientific and educational event

 

Alongside this historic procedure, a postgraduate teaching (PPT) session will be held that same afternoon in the hospital's conference room. This meeting will bring together cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, residents, and students to discuss recent innovations in interventional cardiology and the clinical implications of TAVI for the region. The session will be open to the media.

With this double first, Dakar's Principal Hospital confirms its status as a leading institution in the management of cardiovascular diseases. The introduction of TAVI opens the door to new therapeutic possibilities for Senegalese patients, reducing costly medical evacuations and strengthening the autonomy of the healthcare system.

December 8, 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal date for cardiology in Senegal and West Africa.