Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid and bile back up into the esophagus, causing symptoms such as heartburn, sore throat, cough, and chest pain.
Overview
Gastroesophageal reflux disease can lead to more serious conditions, such as strictures, esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal cancer. The LINX Reflux Management System is a newer treatment for severe and chronic GERD.
Our approach
M Health Fairview experts in thoracic diseases and gastroenterology work together to provide you with medical and surgical treatments for esophageal conditions. Here, you have access to a wide range of experts in many complementary specialties. In addition, many of our physicians are involved in research at the University of Minnesota to help us remain at the forefront of treatments for conditions that affect the esophagus.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is often the result of a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a muscle that opens and closes to enable food to pass into your stomach, but keep acid and bile out. To augment the weak LES using the LINX system, surgeons place a flexible magnetic ring of titanium beads around your esophagus where it joins your stomach. When you swallow, the LINX system expands to enable food and liquid to pass into the stomach. Immediately afterward, the magnetic attraction between the beads helps keep the LES closed until you swallow again.
Surgery to implant a LINX device in your body takes about half an hour. Surgeons use a laparoscope to place the LINX system while you are under general anesthesia. Because the procedure is minimally invasive, you can usually go home the same day or the day following surgery and resume eating a normal diet immediately after surgery.