When acid reflux keeps coming back despite medication and lifestyle changes, it can start to affect your comfort and everyday routine. If this sounds familiar, surgery may be one option to explore.
LINX surgery is a keyhole treatment that uses a small ring of magnetic beads to support the muscle between your oesophagus (food pipe) and stomach. This helps stop acid flowing back up.
In this article, we look at how LINX works, who it may help and what you can expect if you’re considering treatment.
What is acid reflux?
Acid reflux happens when stomach contents move back up into your oesophagus, the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. You may notice heartburn or an unpleasant acidic taste in your mouth when this happens.
At the bottom of your oesophagus is a ring of muscle that acts like a valve (called the lower oesophageal sphincter). It opens when you swallow, then closes to help keep stomach contents where they belong.
If this ring of muscle becomes weak or doesn’t close properly, reflux can develop. When this keeps happening over time, it’s known as GORD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease).
What is LINX surgery?
LINX surgery is a keyhole treatment for GORD that may be considered if medication and lifestyle changes haven’t helped enough.
In LINX surgery, a small device made from a flexible band of titanium beads containing magnets is placed around the lower end of your oesophagus. This helps the muscle stay closed when it needs to, and it lowers the chance of stomach contents flowing back up.
How does the LINX device work?
The magnets inside the LINX beads have a gentle pull towards each other. When you’re not swallowing, this helps keep the opening between your oesophagus and stomach closed, making it harder for stomach contents to travel back upwards.
When you eat or drink, swallowing creates enough pressure to move the beads apart. Food and liquid can then pass into your stomach as normal. Once they’ve passed through, the beads come back together.
This means the device works with your body every time you swallow, instead of staying closed all the time. For some people, it can help reduce symptoms such as heartburn and regurgitation, where food or liquid comes back up.
How is the LINX device fitted?
The LINX device is fitted using keyhole surgery under a general anaesthetic, so you’ll be asleep during the operation.
Your surgeon makes a few small cuts in your stomach to reach the area where your oesophagus joins your stomach. They then place the LINX band around the lower end of your oesophagus and check it fits correctly.
Once in place, the magnetic beads help the muscle stay closed between swallows. They still open when food or drink needs to pass through.
LINX surgery usually takes less than an hour. Because it uses keyhole techniques, the cuts are smaller than those needed for open surgery. This may help make your recovery more comfortable.
Who is suitable for LINX surgery?
LINX may be an option if tests have confirmed GORD and your symptoms haven’t improved enough with other treatments. You may also want to explore it if you’d prefer to reduce your reliance on acid-reducing medication.
LINX may be suitable if:
- Tests have confirmed that you have reflux
- Medication hasn’t controlled your symptoms well enough
- The muscles in your oesophagus are working effectively
- You can swallow normally
- The area where your oesophagus meets your stomach is suitable for the device
Before recommending LINX, your surgeon will talk to you about your symptoms and the treatments you’ve already tried.
You may need further tests, like an endoscopy (a test using a thin, flexible camera to look inside your oesophagus). These check how your oesophagus is working and confirm that reflux is causing your symptoms.
LINX won’t be the right choice for everyone. If another approach is more likely to help, your surgeon will explain your options so you can decide what feels right for you.
What are the benefits of LINX surgery?
For some people with persistent GORD, LINX can ease reflux symptoms. It also allows the muscle between the oesophagus and stomach to keep working naturally.
Potential benefits include:
- Fewer episodes of heartburn and food or liquid coming back up
- Less reliance on acid-reducing medication
- Being able to belch or vomit if needed
- Keyhole surgery using small cuts
Everyone responds differently to treatment. Your surgeon will explain what improvements you might expect, and help you understand if LINX could be right for you.
Is LINX surgery safe?
Like any operation, LINX surgery has some risks. Difficulty swallowing can happen while your body gets used to the device and often improves with time. In a small number of cases, another procedure may be needed if there’s a problem with the LINX band.
Your surgeon will explain the possible risks and benefits before treatment. You’ll have time to ask questions and understand what the procedure could mean for you before making a decision.
Explore LINX surgery with Mr Achal Khanna
If acid reflux continues to affect your daily life despite treatment, you don’t have to keep putting up with your symptoms. A specialist assessment can help you understand what’s causing them and look at the options that could give you better control.
Mr Achal Khanna offers specialist GORD assessment and keyhole treatment in Milton Keynes, including LINX surgery for people who are suited to the procedure. He’ll listen to how reflux is affecting you and review the treatments you’ve already tried.
Book your consultation today, and discover if LINX surgery is right for you.