What is BASILICA?
Bioprosthetic Aortic Scallop Intentional Laceration to prevent Iatrogenic Coronary Artery obstruction (BASILICA) increases treatment options for high-risk patients who need heart valve procedures. The technique prevents coronary artery obstruction during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a rare but often fatal complication.
The TAVR procedure
TAVR, a procedure used to treat aortic valve stenosis, offers an effective and less invasive alternative to open heart surgery for elderly or frail patients. However, a small subset of these patients may develop coronary artery obstruction during the procedure, which can be fatal for more than half the patients who experience it.
During TAVR, the interventional cardiologist places a catheter inside the heart and uses a balloon to open a new valve inside the aortic valve. However, in some patients whose hearts have uncommon structures, such as unusually large valve leaflets or small aortic roots, the large leaflets block the flow of blood to the coronary arteries as the new valve’s scaffolding opens.
The BASILICA procedure
During the BASILICA procedure, the doctor weaves an electrified wire the size of a sewing thread through a catheter and uses it to split the original leaflet in two so that it cannot block the coronary artery once it has been pushed aside by the transcatheter heart valve.
For more information or to speak with a heart valve coordinator, call 248-898-0230.