Up to 20% of people in the United States deal with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) at some point in their lives. This condition, which occurs when acid from your stomach travels up into your esophagus, can cause serious complications if left untreated.
Acid reflux and heartburn symptoms of GERD can keep you up all night, and eventually, exposure to stomach acids can harm your esophagus.
At the Center for Advanced Surgery in Dallas, Plano, and Tyler, Texas, board-certified gastroesophageal surgeons Marc Ward, MD, FACS, and Steven Leeds, MD, FACS, can diagnose your GERD and recommend the best treatment options to resolve the issue.
Among the treatments we recommend to our patients with GERD is the surgically implanted LINX® device. This revolutionary treatment may be able to prevent long-term complications related to GERD, and restore your digestive comfort as well.
If you have GERD, your lower esophageal sphincter isn’t sufficient to prevent stomach acid from rising into your esophagus. You might experience symptoms like chest pain, problems swallowing, a chronic cough, asthma, and frequent regurgitation. GERD symptoms tend to worsen after eating, or at night.
Your risk of developing GERD goes up if you eat significant amounts of fatty foods, are overweight, smoke, or drink a lot of alcohol or coffee. A condition like a hiatal hernia or a connective tissue disorder can also increase your risk of GERD.
If your GERD isn’t treated, the lining of your esophagus could become irritated due to repeated exposure to stomach acid. Eventually, you could develop complications including ulcers, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal narrowing.
At the Center for Advanced Surgery, our team offers multiple treatments to resolve the causes and symptoms of your GERD. If conservative treatment options like medication management and lifestyle changes don’t sufficiently address your GERD, we may recommend surgical treatments, including the surgically implanted LINX device. Here’s how it works.
The LINX device is a ring of interlinked magnetic titanium beads, implanted around the opening of your lower esophageal sphincter. After surgical placement, the LINX device allows you to continue to eat normally, while also managing your acid reflux issues. The flexible ring lets you swallow, and if you need to, you can still vomit normally.
Otherwise, though, the magnetic beads work to hold your lower esophageal sphincter closed and prevent stomach acid from entering your esophagus.
Treatment with LINX can significantly improve or even resolve your GERD symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux. For expert surgical treatment of GERD, contact the Center for Advanced Surgery today. You can schedule over the phone or make an appointment online now.
