After Dr Jörg Zehetner was able to familiarise a total of five surgeons from Saudi Arabia with the LINX Reflux Management System, a special reflux surgical technique, in the summer of 2019, the next five medical professionals from Saudi Arabia now stood together with the Swiss specialist at the virtual operating table. In a special workshop on the LINX Reflux Management System, the Saudi surgeons were trained in the modern techniques of the procedures. While the summer was spent teaching and training in Saudi Arabia, the November workshop took place in Bern.

Johnson & Johnson had once again selected Dr Zehetner as an expert, who now conducted the workshop lasting several days directly in the Swiss1Chirurgie clinic at Schänzlihalde 1 in Bern. In addition to other special facilities, a meeting room with state-of-the-art presentation and video technology is also available there. In this way, it was possible to clearly and comprehensibly demonstrate and try out how the LINX Reflux Management System is to be applied to patients in need of treatment. Dr. Jörg Zehetner was supported by his colleague Dr. Karl Miller, with whom he has already worked as J&J Faculty at several clinics in Saudi Arabia.

After Dr Jörg Zehetner was able to familiarise a total of five surgeons from Saudi Arabia with the LINX Reflux Management System, a special reflux surgical technique, in the summer of 2019, the next five medical professionals from Saudi Arabia now stood together with the Swiss specialist at the virtual operating table. In a special workshop on the LINX Reflux Management System, the Saudi surgeons were trained in the modern techniques of the procedures. While the summer was spent teaching and training in Saudi Arabia, the November workshop took place in Bern.

Johnson & Johnson had once again selected Dr Zehetner as an expert, who now conducted the workshop lasting several days directly in the Swiss1Chirurgie clinic at Schänzlihalde 1 in Bern. In addition to other special facilities, a meeting room with state-of-the-art presentation and video technology is also available there. In this way, it was possible to clearly and comprehensibly demonstrate and try out how the LINX Reflux Management System is to be applied to patients in need of treatment. Dr. Jörg Zehetner was supported by his colleague Dr. Karl Miller, with whom he has already worked as J&J Faculty at several clinics in Saudi Arabia.

EMEA trainings bring regions together

EMEA is the grouping of Europe, the Middle East and the Americas that Johnson & Johnson has put together specifically to further develop treatments and surgical techniques for reflux disease. At the same time, these are the regions where reflux diseases requiring treatment are becoming more frequent.

As with the training sessions in the two German cities of Speyer and Wiesbaden, the focus of the training sessions was once again on the LINX magnetic ring, which brings decisive advantages for the new treatment technique.

Reflux diseases on the rise

The number of new cases of reflux disease continues to increase in the EMEA regions. Reasons for this include a changed lifestyle with sumptuous food and a corresponding increase in obesity. Even though this is a rather new form of affluent disease in the Middle East, it is still on the rise. Accordingly, it is important to already familiarise the appropriate medical professionals with the current expertise on the LINX Reflux Management System.

Typical signs of chronic reflux disease are frequent acid regurgitation, heartburn and burning in the stomach. The decisive factor here is not the occasional occurrence of such complaints, but a continuous and/or frequent observation of such symptoms with the corresponding sequelae, which can manifest themselves primarily in damage to the oesophagus due to constant contact with stomach acid. Subsequent changes in the mucous membrane of the oesophagus can be the first signs of oesophageal cancer. It is therefore advisable, especially for reflux patients over the age of 50, to have a preventive check-up, which should also be combined with a gastroscopy.

For 20 percent of the Swiss population, this is not an unknown disease, while in the countries of the Middle East, however, similar accumulations can already be predicted now. If you want to learn more about reflux disease, we recommend studying the relevant specialist articles on the Swiss1Chirurgie website or in the Swiss1Chirurgie APP.

More quality in reflux treatment through improved education and training

For Dr. Jörg Zehetner, a faculty member of Johnson & Johnson, it is clear that quality in reflux treatment is primarily a question of the appropriate surgical techniques. Continuing education is also seen as correspondingly important, always focusing on the latest and most successful methods in reflux treatment.

Dr. Jörg Zehetner is one of the most experienced surgeons in this field, both nationally and internationally. Accordingly, it is also the right decision to continue to promote the training and further education of colleagues in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, but also in the USA and in Saudi Arabia, for example, with this professionalism.

Together, J&J and Dr Zehetner are planning about two to three English-language EMEA workshops per year in Bern. In addition, there will be four to five further LINX workshops for German-speaking colleagues, also in Bern. This offer is completed by two to three further training series in Hamburg (at the J&J Institute Norderstedt, the J&J training and development centre) including a masterclass training series. This could at least meet the first major demand for specialised training series on the LINX Reflux Management System.