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May 10, 2019 — The distinguished team of heart and vascular experts at JFK Medical Center recently became the first in the state of Florida to perform a new and innovative technique that prevents coronary artery obstruction during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a rare but often fatal complication.  The procedure is called, Bioprosthetic Aortic Scallop Intentional Laceration to prevent Iatrogenic Coronary Artery obstruction (BASILICA).
 
Approximately 5 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with heart valve disease each year and more than 20,000 die. Many seeking treatment are not candidates for traditional open heart surgery due to their age and frailty.  For these patients, TAVR offers an effective and less invasive lifesaving alternative.   During a TAVR procedure, doctors place a flexible tube, or catheter, inside the heart and use a balloon to open a new valve inside the existing aortic valve. However, in some patients with a particular heart anatomy, the native valve’s leaflets block the flow of blood to the coronary arteries as the new valve’s scaffolding opens. This complication can be fatal unless corrected and is prevented during traditional open heart surgery by cutting away the native valve itself. 
 
The BASILICA procedure solves this issue during TAVR. The cardiologist weaves an electrified wire the size of a sewing thread through a catheter and uses it to slice the patient’s native aortic leaflet. This prevents the flap from blocking critical blood flow through the heart when the doctor deploys the new valve. 
 
 “We are thrilled to be able to offer this to our patients who have been told they are out of options,” said Marcos Nores, MD, Medical Director of the JFK Heart and Vascular Institute.
 
 For over thirty years, JFK Medical Center has been providing cutting-edge cardiovascular services to the community.  JFK was a pioneer of the TAVR procedure in 2012 and has since performed over 1,200. Similar to TAVR, BASILICA offers hope to those high risk patients, transforming treatment options and effectively saving and extending their lives.  
 
 
Founded over 50 years ago, JFK Medical Center, originally named John F. Kennedy Hospital was the first memorial to our nation’s 35th president. Growing with the community, JFK Medical Center has evolved into a multi-campus medical center, with four locations throughout Palm Beach County. Our main campus in Atlantis is a 486-bed facility known for its comprehensive services, including Cardiovascular Care, General and Orthopedic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Stroke Care, Robotics, Maternity Care, Cancer Care and Emergency Care. JFK Medical Center North Campus is a 245-bed acute care hospital, with an adjoining 88-bed psychiatric unit and a medical professional office building. JFK also has two off-site Emergency Rooms in Palm Beach Gardens and Boynton Beach.
 
JFK Medical Center is a facility of HCA East Florida. HCA East Florida is the largest healthcare system in Eastern Florida and an affiliate of HCA Healthcare (HCA). HCA East Florida has 15 hospitals, multiple ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care centers, physician practices, imaging centers and free standing emergency care facilities, as well as a supply chain center and an integrated regional lab. Together, HCA East Florida employs more than 18,000 employees and has more than 6,600 physicians on staff. For more information, visit HCAEastFlorida.com.
 
 
May 10, 2019 — The distinguished team of heart and vascular experts at JFK Medical Center recently became the first in the state of Florida to perform a new and innovative technique that prevents coronary artery obstruction during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a rare but often fatal complication.  The procedure is called, Bioprosthetic Aortic Scallop Intentional Laceration to prevent Iatrogenic Coronary Artery obstruction (BASILICA).
 
Approximately 5 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with heart valve disease each year and more than 20,000 die. Many seeking treatment are not candidates for traditional open heart surgery due to their age and frailty.  For these patients, TAVR offers an effective and less invasive lifesaving alternative.   During a TAVR procedure, doctors place a flexible tube, or catheter, inside the heart and use a balloon to open a new valve inside the existing aortic valve. However, in some patients with a particular heart anatomy, the native valve’s leaflets block the flow of blood to the coronary arteries as the new valve’s scaffolding opens. This complication can be fatal unless corrected and is prevented during traditional open heart surgery by cutting away the native valve itself. 
 
The BASILICA procedure solves this issue during TAVR. The cardiologist weaves an electrified wire the size of a sewing thread through a catheter and uses it to slice the patient’s native aortic leaflet. This prevents the flap from blocking critical blood flow through the heart when the doctor deploys the new valve. 
 
 “We are thrilled to be able to offer this to our patients who have been told they are out of options,” said Marcos Nores, MD, Medical Director of the JFK Heart and Vascular Institute.
 
For over thirty years, JFK Medical Center has been providing cutting-edge cardiovascular services to the community.  JFK was a pioneer of the TAVR procedure in 2012 and has since performed over 1,200. Similar to TAVR, BASILICA offers hope to those high risk patients, transforming treatment options and effectively saving and extending their lives.  
 
 
Founded over 50 years ago, JFK Medical Center, originally named John F. Kennedy Hospital was the first memorial to our nation’s 35th president. Growing with the community, JFK Medical Center has evolved into a multi-campus medical center, with four locations throughout Palm Beach County. Our main campus in Atlantis is a 486-bed facility known for its comprehensive services, including Cardiovascular Care, General and Orthopedic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Stroke Care, Robotics, Maternity Care, Cancer Care and Emergency Care. JFK Medical Center North Campus is a 245-bed acute care hospital, with an adjoining 88-bed psychiatric unit and a medical professional office building. JFK also has two off-site Emergency Rooms in Palm Beach Gardens and Boynton Beach.
 
JFK Medical Center is a facility of HCA East Florida. HCA East Florida is the largest healthcare system in Eastern Florida and an affiliate of HCA Healthcare (HCA). HCA East Florida has 15 hospitals, multiple ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care centers, physician practices, imaging centers and free standing emergency care facilities, as well as a supply chain center and an integrated regional lab. Together, HCA East Florida employs more than 18,000 employees and has more than 6,600 physicians on staff. For more information, visit HCAEastFlorida.com.