The Institute of Cardiology of Abidjan (ICA) has achieved a major milestone in cardiovascular care in Sub-Saharan Africa. On June 4, 2026, the Institute successfully performed the region's first atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, marking a significant breakthrough for interventional electrophysiology and cardiac care in Côte d'Ivoire.
The procedure was successfully performed on a 56-year-old patient suffering from symptomatic atrial fibrillation.
The electrophysiology team, led by Professors Adoubi Annicet and N'Djessan Jean-Jacques, together with Dr. Kouamé Stéphane, successfully carried out the intervention. Thanks to this highly specialized procedure, the patient was discharged the following day.
This medical achievement resulted from close multidisciplinary collaboration. Dr. Tshihiluka, anesthesiologist, Professor Ncho-Mottoh, who performed the cardiac CT scan, and Dr. Angoran, responsible for echocardiographic guidance, all contributed to the success of the procedure.
The intervention also benefited from the expertise of a Canadian medical mission from Sainte-Justine au Cœur du Monde. The delegation included Dr. Blandine Mondésert from the Montreal Heart Institute, Dr. Laroussi from Sacré-Cœur Hospital of Montreal, as well as Lucie Costentin, a specialized nurse, and Cynthia Lauzon, an electrophysiology technologist.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide. It is characterized by irregular electrical activity in the atria, which can cause palpitations, persistent fatigue, shortness of breath, and significantly increase the risk of stroke. For many patients, catheter ablation offers an effective treatment to relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, and reduce complications.
This historic first confirms the remarkable progress achieved by ICA in interventional electrophysiology and reinforces its ambition to become a regional center of excellence for cardiovascular care in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The achievement is part of the Cardiology Initiative Project, implemented under a five-year partnership agreement signed on November 25, 2022, between the Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage of Côte d'Ivoire, Mitrelli, and their partners.
Following this latest milestone—coming just months after Côte d'Ivoire's first cardiac resynchronization therapy procedure in December 2025—Mitrelli Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal Managing Director Abdoul Hien welcomed the progress made through the partnership and reaffirmed the company's long-term commitment to strengthening ICA's technical and human capacities.
Professor Euloge Kramoh Kouadio, Director General of the Institute of Cardiology of Abidjan, also praised the achievement, emphasizing that it reflects the Ivorian Government's vision of positioning Côte d'Ivoire as a regional center of excellence in cardiovascular care.
Since its launch, the Cardiology Initiative Project has enabled the treatment of 139 children with congenital heart disease, trained more than 200 ICA healthcare professionals, and supported the development of the country's first pilot phases in interventional electrophysiology.
The successive medical missions illustrate this steady progress. In May 2025, eleven patients underwent ablation or device implantation procedures alongside specialized consultations. In December 2025, thirteen additional patients received treatment. Finally, in June 2026, eleven more patients benefited from ablation or implantation procedures, culminating in the successful completion of the first atrial fibrillation ablation ever performed in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Building on these achievements, Abdoul Hien announced that preparations are already underway for the next interventional electrophysiology mission, scheduled for October 2026. The upcoming mission is expected to further consolidate the project's achievements and expand access to advanced cardiovascular care for patients across Côte d'Ivoire.