title: LINX(™) Reflux Management System: magnetic sphincter augmentation in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease.
abstract: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), commonly manifested by heartburn or regurgitation, is a chronic, progressive condition in which failed sphincter function allows the contents of the stomach to reflux into the esophagus, the airways and the mouth. Chronic GERD affects 10% of Western society. The majority of patients receive adequate relief from proton pump inhibitors, but up to 40% have incomplete relief of symptoms that cannot be addressed by increasing the dose of medications. The laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is the surgical gold standard; however, the level of technical difficulty and its side effects have limited its use to less than 1% of the GERD population. These factors have contributed to the propensity of patients to persist with medical therapy, even when inadequate to control symptoms and complications of the disease. Consequently, a significant gap in the treatment continuum for GERD remains evident in current clinical practice. The LINX(™) Reflux Management System (Torax Medical) is designed to provide a permanent solution to GERD by augmenting the physiologic function of the sphincter barrier with a simple and reproducible laparoscopic procedure that does not alter gastric anatomy and can be easily reversed if necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milano Medical School, Division of General Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Via Morandi 30 20097, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy. luigi.bonavina@unimi.it
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonavina
authors.forename: Tom R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: DeMeester
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ganz
mesh_terms: D049630:Esophageal Sphincter, Lower / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D059346:Magnets; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods