What is the LINX System?

For those who experience gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), acid from the stomach can back up into the esophagus due to a weak muscle at the base of the esophagus. This can lead to a variety of symptoms, including an acid taste at the back of the throat, a burning sensation in the mid-abdomen, or the development of asthma or a chronic cough. Lifestyle changes, medication, and traditional surgery are all options for treatment. However, due to the drawbacks of traditional surgery, the LINX System is often regarded as a better option with fewer complications and side effects.

As the only surgical implant approved by the FDA to treat GERD, the LINX System stops reflux before it starts. In a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure that usually takes less than an hour, a ring of magnetic ball bearings held together by titanium wires close off the lower esophagus. This prevents acid from refluxing up the esophagus. However, when the patient swallows, belches, or vomits, the pressure generated causes the magnetic ball bearings to separate when needed.

Available at our Heartburn & Acid Reflux Institute in The Woodlands, Texas, and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, this long-term solution to acid reflux and recurring heartburn has allowed many to return to a more comfortable, reflux-free life.

Comparing Treatment Options for Heartburn

Diet and lifestyle changes can help you manage the symptoms of GERD. Depending on the severity, medications or surgical options can also be used to treat this digestive disorder. While medications like antacids can provide symptom relief, having a daily dependence on medication can become burdensome over time.

Two long-term solutions include LNF (Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication) and LINX. LNF permanently alters your stomach’s anatomy as a surgeon wraps and sews the top of your stomach around the esophagus to reduce reflux. LINX involves implanting a quarter-sized device around your lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to prevent stomach acid from entering your esophagus. While LNF is an older procedure, LINX is FDA-approved and showing promising results as the preferred treatment for GERD.

	Medication	LNF	LINX
Needed daily	✔	X	X
Repairs sphincter defects	X	✔	✔
Minimally invasive surgery	X	✔	✔
Preserves patient’s gastric anatomy	✔	X	✔
Permanently alters patient’s stomach	X	X	X