A study published in 2026 examined the outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 55 patients at a single center in Senegal. The research, conducted at the Fann University Hospital in Dakar, aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of CABG in a low- and middle-income country setting.
The study included patients who underwent CABG between 2020 and 2025. The average age of patients was 58 years, and 78% were male. The most common risk factors were hypertension (65%), diabetes (40%), and smoking (35%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 5.5%, which is comparable to rates in high-income countries.
Researchers noted that despite limited resources, including a shortage of cardiopulmonary bypass machines and trained perfusionists, the outcomes were acceptable. The study highlights the potential for expanding cardiac surgery services in sub-Saharan Africa, where the burden of cardiovascular disease is rising.
The authors call for increased investment in cardiac care infrastructure and training programs in the region. They also emphasize the need for larger, multicenter studies to confirm these findings and improve surgical outcomes.
