What Is LINX GERD Treatment?
Expert doctors who deal with esophageal disease are now offering the LINX Reflux Management System treatment for people who are suffering from chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (also known as GERD).
LINX was approved in 2012 by the FDA to treat GERD. In studies regarding LINX, 90% of patients reported significant improvement in their reflux symptoms or were able to eliminate intake of medications within just a year after having the treatment done.
What Is LINX?
The LINX procedure can help patients return to their normal lifestyle unaffected by their GERD. Unlike other standard surgical treatments available on the market for the treatment of GERD, LINX is minimally invasive.
The LINX Reflux Management System was developed by Torax Medical, Inc. It is a permanent and drug-free GERD treatment.
LINX uses a tiny chain of magnetic titanium beads that surrounds and compresses the sphincter of the lower esophagus (LES), located at the esophagus base. This is the valve that normally prevents the gastric acids in the stomach from refluxing up into the esophagus.
The magnetic attraction between the beads stops the gastric pressure from pushing open the muscles, which serves to prevent the gastric acids from refluxing back up into the esophagus. It also safely allows the LES to open so that the person can swallow their food with ease.
When a person who has the LINX system installed swallows, the motion of the food or liquid that is passing through the lower esophagus easily overcomes the magnetic attraction present between the beads. This permits the contents to pass easily through the LES and into the stomach.
If the stomach reacts and reflux tries to escape up into the esophagus (which would then result in acidity or heartburn), the magnetic beads help keep the acid down in the same manner as any normally or regularly functioning LES.
Details of the LINX Procedure
The LINX procedure usually takes less than an hour to perform. Because the stomach and esophagus require no kind of surgical alteration during the procedure, most patients can return home the day after the surgery. Most of them are even able to resume their normal diets immediately.
The patient is first sedated using general anesthesia. The LINX device is then slowly and carefully implanted around the sphincter of the lower esophagus using a very common surgical tool known as a laparoscope. A laparoscopy is a very minimally invasive surgery that allows surgeons to operation in the abdominal area by making a series of small incisions.
The esophagus will have to be measured first so that the doctor can select the right size for the LINX device. He does this by placing a bracelet-like device around the esophageal tube and at the LES and then measuring the diameter to get the best fit.
The measurement necklace is then removed and the LINX device is implanted, making sure the ends of the band are aligned and securely linked. In most cases, the patients can return home on the same day as the procedure.
Treat Your GERD Today
Highly skilled and experienced surgeons will be available to explain the LINX GERD treatment in further detail as part of an informative consultation. Contact us today to take the first step towards effective management of GERD symptoms.
