Houston LINX acid reflux surgery consists of placing a bracelet of magnetic beads around the lower esophageal sphincter. The magnetic bracelet increases resistance around the lower esophageal sphincter. LINX device keeps the sphincter closed at gastric pressures less than 20 mm of Hg. Acid reflux...
Sleeve gastrectomy when properly performed is almost as good as a Nissen fundoplication in alleviating heartburn and effectively resolving acid reflux. Unfortunately, narrowed or twisted gastric sleeve lumen at the incisura angularis results in severe acid reflux as well as hiatal hernia development. A number...
“Objective Evidence of Reflux Control After Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation: One Year Results From a Post Approval Study”, is a new multicenter, prospective, study recently published in the Annals of Surgery journal. 200 patients with objective evidence of acid reflux were treated with LINX device surgery...
The case of the week is a 40-year-old male with chest pain and discomfort 2 years after LINX placement. The patient underwent LINX surgery for symptomatic GERD poorly responsive to proton pump inhibitor therapy. He had significant food regurgitation and daily heartburn. Concomitantly, he had...
In 1979 Jean Pierre Angelchick developed a doughnut-like prosthesis made of nylon and filled with silicone gel. He assumed that the device, when placed around the distal esophagus, would prevent GERD by reinforcing the lower esophageal sphincter, LES. Around 30,000 devices were implanted around the...
A 62 year-old male presented to my office this past week with a 12 year history of recurrent attacks of shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing and difficulty breathing. The patient has been diagnosed with COPD. He has never smoked or been exposed to harmful...
I recently joined a LINX support group on Facebook for patients who had the LINX or about to have it. I was following all those patients who had the procedure and learning about their experience with this new device. More than half of the patients...
The Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is among the many small miracles of normal bodily function. It is a one-way valve that allows food to get into the stomach while preventing food and acid back flow into the esophagus. The LES mechanism of action is quite...