LINX™ Surgery and Pregnancy

LINX™ Surgery and Pregnancy

“Grace from Houston sent us this question: “Has the LINX™ procedure had any studies regarding pregnancy. I will be undergoing this procedure, but I am planning to become pregnant a few months after. With my first child my GERD became much worse and had continued after the pregnancy so much that I was not able to eat anything at times and PPIs didn’t help. It seems it would be unlikely to have a 2nd pregnancy without some intervention due to the importance of being able to eat and consume additional calories. Any information would be helpful. Thank you”

Dear Grace,

I am not aware of studies evaluating the efficacy, safety and durability of LINX™ device during and following pregnancy. Patients who undergo LINX™ surgery can vomit following LINX™ device placement. LINX™ may therefore be advantageous during pregnancy. LINX™, however, has limited efficacy in stopping acid reflux and controlling symptoms, particularly in cases of severe GERD. A more reliable solution for severe acid reflux is Nissen fundoplication. A properly performed Nissen fundoplication along with hiatal hernia repair in patients with confirmed acid reflux disease has more than 99% success rate and less than 1% complication rate.

For more information on Nissen fundoplication and pregnancy, please check this blog:
https://houstonheartburn.com/nissen-fundoplication-before-or-after-pregnancy