LINX® Procedure

The LINX procedure is a surgical treatment for severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It involves your healthcare provider placing a beaded ring around the lower part of your esophagus. LINX reduces or eliminates uncomfortable symptoms of GERD, like acid reflux and heartburn.

The LINX device looks like a stretchy, beaded bracelet. The beads are magnets wrapped in titanium, strung together on a flexible wire. The LINX device opens to allow food and liquid to go down when you swallow. But the magnetic beads are strong enough to close and prevent stomach acid from coming back up.

What does LINX treat?

LINX may be right for you if you have GERD and:

• Medications like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), antacids and H2 blockers don’t help your symptoms
• Other surgical procedures, like Nissen fundoplication, weren’t successful

People with metal allergies shouldn’t get LINX.

How do you prepare for a LINX procedure?

The procedure is laparoscopic, which means surgeons use smaller incisions. But it does require general anesthesia. You’ll need someone to drive you home after surgery (you shouldn’t have to stay overnight).

Your healthcare provider will go over what this procedure is like and how to prepare for it. Instructions may include:

• When to stop eating and drinking (fasting)
• Whether you need to stop taking any medications

What happens during the LINX procedure?

You can expect the following during the LINX procedure:

1. Your healthcare team gives you anesthesia so you’re asleep for the procedure.
2. Your surgeon makes small cuts (incisions) in your abdomen to access your lower esophagus.
3. They implant the LINX device around your lower esophagus.
4. Your surgeon closes the incisions with stitches and covers the area with a bandage.
5. You go to a recovery room to wake up from the procedure.

The procedure takes less than an hour.

What are the risks and benefits of a LINX procedure?

The biggest benefit of LINX is that it helps you feel better. Most people won’t experience acid reflux or heartburn as frequently or at all afterward.

Other benefits are:

• No medications: You can usually reduce or stop anti-reflux medications.
• Minimally invasive: It’s less invasive than other surgeries to treat GERD. It doesn’t usually require spending the night in the hospital.
• No changes to digestive function: LINX doesn’t alter the way your digestive anatomy works. It doesn’t affect how you eat, drink or swallow.
• Removable: Your healthcare provider can remove it if they want to try a different treatment.

LINX is usually a successful procedure. There aren’t many studies, but initial studies are positive.

Possible risks are:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Pain and discomfort
• Bloating or gas

Less common complications could include:

• The device shifts upward or erodes into your esophageal tissue.
• You don’t have relief from GERD symptoms.
• The device stops working (manufacturing errors).

Ask your healthcare provider if you can safely have an MRI, as this can vary depending on which LINX system you have.

What happens after a LINX procedure?

The device begins to work immediately. After you recover, you’ll be able to go home and start eating and drinking as usual. It may be best to start with softer foods. Most people can return to their normal activities within 48 hours.

Your healthcare provider will explain what to expect afterward. Ask them any questions you have about postsurgical care, eating or activity level.

How long does the LINX device last?

The device is made to last a lifetime, although your provider may need to remove it sooner in some cases. One study found that the risk of removal within seven years was 4.81%. The main reason for removal was difficulty swallowing.

Since the device is a newer treatment, long-term studies are limited.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Contact your provider if you have any questions about the LINX procedure or if you have any complications afterward. Things to watch for post-surgery include:

• Being unable to swallow
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Pain that doesn’t go away