Swiss1chirurgie with LINX Reflux Management System international leader in the treatment of reflux diseases

As part of an international project, Dr Zehetner from swiss1chirurgie has supported two new centres for the treatment of reflux disease in Saudi Arabia. In the process, the minimally invasive surgical technique known as LINX was also established there, which is one of the most successful and modern treatment methods for chronic heartburn worldwide.

LINX as a minimally invasive surgical technique is mainly characterised by the insertion of a magnetic ring at the lower end of the oesophagus. Put simply, this magnetic ring ensures that the annoying acid regurgitation, which is one of the unpleasant phenomena of chronic reflux diseases, can be successfully and permanently prevented. Such treatment of reflux disease is important because the acidic gastric fluid that constantly rises into the oesophagus also permanently affects the oesophagus itself. Untreated reflux disease not only affects the general well-being, but can also change the mucous membrane of the oesophagus due to the constant acid attack, and in the worst case can also cause cancer.

Reflux disease is one of the unpleasant side effects of changing eating habits, especially in developed industrialised countries. Even though the main focus is on combating unhealthy, unbalanced diets and curbing obesity, chronic reflux disease accounts for a high proportion of this patient group in particular.

With the relatively new LINX treatment technique, it has now been possible to establish a gentle and permanently effective treatment approach. Dr. Zehetner is one of the most successful users of LINX worldwide. With a total of 150 LINX surgeries since 2015 and 50 corresponding surgical procedures in 2018 alone, Dr Zehetner positions himself among the top 5 in LINX surgeries in Europe. All in all, he has been one of the top surgeons in Europe for years and is always involved in making new successful surgical techniques known and establishing them beyond the borders of Switzerland.

Together with Johnson&Johnson, Dr Zehetner was in Saudi Arabia from 29.06.2019 to 03.07.2019 to introduce and successfully open the first two centres for LINX reflux surgery. We have attached a picture series to this article. In addition, Dr Zehetner supports the establishment of the LINX centres as a trainer for J&J Preceptor, for example, also in Germany. A total of 15 such centres have been established there in the last three years. From 10 to 12 July 2019, Dr Jörg Zehetner will be the speaker at an Expert User Meeting on reflux disease in Hamburg. We will also be happy to report on this in the blog

Heartburn and belching – Can medication and diets alone help with reflux?

How to manage chronic reflux disease

Everyone is familiar with occasional acid regurgitation or heartburn. As unpleasant as such a physical reaction may be, it is quickly over and forgotten. Until next time. Triggers for stomach burns and acid regurgitation are often spicy foods, alcohol consumption, coffee, carbonated drinks or even citrus fruits. Especially when it becomes chronic, we speak of chronic reflux disease (GERD= gastro-esophageal reflux disease).

Many doctors then advise drug treatment or controversial dietary measures. The swiss1chirurgie clinic then follows a more holistic approach that considers cause, effect, appearance and comprehensive treatment options as a whole.

Medicinal approaches and dietary measures for belching and stomach burns

These are often the remedies of choice when acid regurgitation and heartburn are to be countered. At least in the first approach, acid blockers are often recommended, some of which are available without prescription. If no sustainable success is achieved here, it is not uncommon for additional so-called diet measures to be discussed, which are then recommended as the next remedy of choice.

In patients with mild to moderate symptoms, “dietary measures” are recommended instead of acid blockers or as an adjunct to drug therapy, which can be something like the following:

1. Avoiding the following “reflux-producing foods”:

• Onion and garlic
• Tomato, Cucumber, Paprika
• Fried food, Spicy food
• Alcoholic beverages, especially white wine, prosecco, champagne
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Carbonated drinks
• Citrus fruits

2. Adaptation of eating habits in case of reflux:

• Early dinner
• Do not overeat, smaller portions
• No smoking
• Sit straight after a meal
• Do not eat directly before going to bed

However, such dietary measures are always accompanied by restrictions in lifestyle habits and thus also in the individual’s quality of life. And not always with the hoped-for success. After all, it is not only diet and certain lifestyle habits alone that promote belching and heartburn, but often also organic constellations that cannot simply be eliminated with diets and/or medication.

What works well for some people does not lead to any changes for others and in the worst case only prolongs the history of suffering with the corresponding limitations. This becomes clear when significant complaints still occur despite acid blockers and dietary measures. These manifest themselves, for example, in chronic cough, voice changes, tooth erosions, nocturnal acid attacks and similar unpleasant phenomena.

Surgical intervention can help with reflux

Those who cannot get chronic problems with heartburn and belching under control will quickly despair of medication and diets. Then the path usually leads to the gastroenterologist, who looks for organic causes for the complaints by means of a gastroscopy.

In the same context, we recommend going to the swiss1chirurgie clinic of Bern Visceral Surgery Steffen AG. Here, expert surgeons are available for consultation and can also provide long-term help if the symptoms are suitable.

Reflux surgery is then often recommended, which involves a minimally invasive procedure. Usually, such a procedure takes between 30 and 60 minutes and involves a stay of one to two days in hospital. As a result of the small operation, patients are usually completely symptom-free. And ideally without any medication or diets that restrict the quality of life.

A visit to the swiss1chirurgie clinic of Berner Viszeralchirurgie Steffen AG can therefore be very worthwhile in the case of reflux and is a very good alternative to chronic complaints of stomach burns or acid regurgitation. The specialised surgeons in the swiss1chirurgie clinic will be happy to tell you in a personal consultation what can be done in a specific individual case.