Swiss1Chirurgie with new location in Brig

With the new clinic in Brig, Swiss1Chirurgie, under the leadership of Professor Dr. Jörg Zehetner, has now also found a location in the Upper Valais. With the specialisation in obesity surgery, the treatment of abdominal hernias and reflux diseases, the population in the region is thus provided with a medical service that is probably unique in Valais in this specialisation.

(from left) Dr. med. Urs Summermatter, Professor Dr. Jörg Zehetner

Until now, Professor Dr. Zehetner’s specialist medical services were related to the catchment areas of Bern and, more recently, Solothurn. With the engagement in the medical centre Praxis Dr. Summermatter in Bahnhofstrasse 1 in Brig, the specialised surgeon now also provides his professional services directly in the Valais. This seems to be quite necessary, as the provision of such specialised services was rather meagre to non-existent.

The work in the new medical centre is supported by the specialist colleague Alejandro Metzger, MD, who also specialises in obesity and abdominal surgery. In this way, a professional service can be established in Valais under the banner of Swiss1Chirurgie. It is also interesting to note that a specialist in cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery has set up shop directly in the medical centre. This can be a complementary component in many cases of obesity surgery, ensuring the restoration of the patient’s complete health and aesthetic well-being. It also makes sense that Dr. Summermatter’s clinic also offers special nutritional counselling services. This closes a circle of medical competencies that are evidenced above all by Professor Dr Zehetner and his colleague Dr Metzger.

(from left) Alejandro Metzger, MD, Professor Jörg Zehetner, MD, and David Kiermeir, MD.

The fact that the services offered by the specialists for bariatric surgery meet with a high level of acceptance, especially here in the Upper Valais, was already evident at the opening of the clinic with an open day. For a whole eight hours, Professor Dr Zehetner and Dr Metzger answered the questions of the interested visitors and the invited expert colleagues. This proves that there is definitely a great demand here for the specialised services of obesity surgery and the treatment of reflux diseases, which can now be satisfied in the new treatment rooms of Swiss1Chirurgie.

Alejandro Metzger, MD, and Professor Dr Jörg Zehetner in conversation

You can find out more about the new location here

Dr. Zehetner awarded “Leading Medicine Guide 2019”

When medical services in Switzerland are awarded the “Leading Medicine Guide”, then professional colleagues and patients can be sure that this is a truly high-quality range of services.

The “Leading Medicine Guide 2019” was awarded to swiss1chirurgie under the leadership of Dr Zehetner. With its speciality in obesity surgery, abdominal hernias and reflux diseases, the group practice has dedicated itself to a discipline that is a true heartfelt concern for many Swiss people. Dr. Zehetner’s clinic has long since scored points not only with its specialised range of services, but above all with the professionalism of the specialist medical services with which Dr. Zehetner surprises not only the patients, but also the specialist colleagues.

After a long day of surgery in the clinic, Dr. med. Jörg Zehetner was able to accept the coveted prize on 30.06.2019. Justified pride is mixed with a healthy dose of self-confidence and the certainty that swiss1chirurgie will continue to provide services that are entirely dedicated to the well-being of patients. In addition to his work in the operating theatre, Dr Zehetner also addresses the concerns and needs of his patients in a large number of lectures and individual consultations.

For Dr. Zehetner, the focus is not on personal gain from his professional work, but rather on patient satisfaction. After all, problems with obesity, abdominal hernias and reflux diseases are no longer individual diseases, but have long been medical problem areas of our affluent society, in which obesity, for example, is no longer an isolated phenomenon due to a constantly available supply of food.

Beyond his work as a surgeon, Dr. Zehetner therefore also devotes himself to educating people about healthy nutrition and healthy lifestyles, which might cut off the great demand for surgical interventions, but are more than close to his ethical responsibility as a medical doctor. This means that the “Leading Medicine Guide 2019” award is certainly more than just deserved.

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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

Dr Zehetner meets at the “American College of Surgeons” Clinical Congress in San Francisco for a professional exchange.

The American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress (ACS Congress) is held annually in October in the USA. This year, San Francisco, California, was the meeting place for specialised surgeons who stand for innovation and reliable surgical technique with special achievements in their field. However, no surgeon is admitted to the top ranks of international colleagues all by himself. The ACS Congress is mainly attended by members of the American College of Surgeons. However, only those who have previously achieved the title Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) can become members here.

Already during his stay in the USA from 2008 to 2015, Dr Jörg Zehetner attended the ACS Congress every year. And he received the title FACS on the occasion of a solemn convocation, which as an admission ceremony seals membership in the “American College of Surgeons” society. Prerequisites for this title are a completed specialist training in surgery as well as several years of successful professional practice and the recommendation of at least three academic specialist colleagues. So the hurdles are set high if you want to become a member of this select society. For Dr Jörg Zehetner of Swiss1Chirurgie, this membership in the “American College of Surgeons” society became a reality as early as 2014.

New developments and old friendships

Of particular interest were the new developments in obesity surgery and reflux surgery. In these special fields, Dr. Zehetner has been a sought-after specialist colleague for years due to his high level of expertise, who is always interested in new surgical techniques and, first and foremost, in the sustainable success of the interventions. A central topic during this year’s congress was robotic surgery. There was a lot to learn, even though the first day of the congress in particular was also associated with the difficulties of jet lag after the journey from Bern to San Francisco.

The reunion with the American colleagues from the time when they worked together at the Department of Surgery at the University of Southern California (USC) was a little more relaxed. Old friendships could be revived just as much as the exchange on the specialist topics, which were the focus of attention at the congress anyway.

The cooperation with the specialists from California and with colleagues at the University of San Diego resulted in numerous research findings, which Dr. Zehetner was able to publish in many publications even after 2015. Especially the research projects in the field of reflux diseases, oesophageal cancer as well as obesity surgery have led to results that still have an impact on surgery today and offer real cures for patients.

American contacts in the German-speaking world

Competence in the special subject areas exists in the German-speaking world, but is hardly noticed internationally. It is therefore important that Dr Jörg Zehetner, with his successful professional experience and scientific work on the topics, is an important and currently the only link between the American surgical societies and the experts in the German-speaking countries.

In the International Relation Committee of the SSAT (Society of the Alimentary Tract) he is the only member from the DACH region and thus ensures a successful exchange with the American colleagues.

The SSAT and three other societies hold the world’s largest and most important congress for surgeons and gastroenterologists every year in May. For the coming year, Digestive Disease Week is planned for the period from 2 to 05 May 2020. By then at the latest, Dr Jörg Zehetner will again be able to cultivate his international contacts with specialist colleagues and shine with his characteristic surgical competence. With or without jet lag.

Saudi doctors learn in Bern

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.