Photo Credit: Ron Waksman/Medstar Washington Hospital Center
The BASILICA procedure, which involves the intentional laceration of a preexisting aortic leaflet prior to TAVI in order to prevent coronary obstruction, can be safely performed in the vast majority of patients, according to new data from an international registry.
Among 214 patients undergoing BASILICA at 25 centers, the rate of death at 30 days was 2.8%, as was the rate of stroke, and just one patient (0.5%) had a disabling stroke.
Senior investigator Ron Waksman, MD (MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC), said BASILICA offers a “unique solution” to patients at high risk for coronary obstruction with TAVI, one that isn’t associated with increased cost. “We wanted to prove that BASILICA was safe, number one, and feasible, number two, and effective,” Waksman told TCTMD.