Magnetic LES augmentation : the LINX procedure

The laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication represents the current gold standard for the surgical treatment of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) but is largely underused because of its technical difficulty, the low reproducibility in the hands of individual surgeons, and the significant side effect profile. These factors have driven many gastroenterologists and patients to continue medical therapy despite inadequate symptom control and/or the development of complications from the disease. As a consequence, there exists a significant “therapy gap” in the treatment of GERD that has emerged over the past several years. The LINX™ Reflux Management System was designed to provide a permanent solution to GERD by augmenting the lower esophageal sphincter barrier with a simple and reproducible laparoscopic procedure that does not alter gastric anatomy and can be easily reversed. Prospective studies have demonstrated that the LINX device significantly improves quality of life with dramatic reduction in use of proton-pump inhibitors, normalization of esophageal acid exposure, and a low risk of significant adverse events.