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