New procedure in Springfield provides options for high-risk patients

A breakthrough in cardiac care has arrived in central Illinois. SIU Medicine cardiologist Ahmad Al Turk, MD, assisted by Abdul Moiz Hafiz, MD and Abhishek Kulkarni, MD, recently performed the first BASILICA procedure at Springfield Memorial Hospital, bringing new hope to patients with complex heart conditions.

BASILICA is an innovative technique designed to make transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) safer. TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure used to replace a failing heart valve, but for some patients, it carries a serious risk of coronary artery blockage. BASILICA helps prevent this by carefully splitting part of the old valve to keep proper blood flow during the procedure. This reduces complications and provides a safer option, especially for patients who have had previous open-heart surgery for valve replacement.

This first BASILICA procedure is a milestone for Springfield Memorial Hospital and a testament to SIU Medicine’s commitment to advancing cardiac care.

“We are excited to offer advanced procedures for patients in central and southern Illinois,” Al Turk said. “Our goal is to bring state-of-the-art treatments like this transcatheter surgery into our communities, to help heal our neighbors.”

Al Turk joined SIU Medicine’s cardiology team in 2023 as a structural heart disease specialist and interventional cardiologist. He completed an internal medicine residency at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He went on to complete three advanced fellowships in cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology and structural heart disease at Tulane University School of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and Banner-University of Arizona.

For more information about our advanced cardiac services, please visit siumed.org/treatment/structural-heart-disease.