UCSD surgeon implants new INX device in a 29-year old patient with GERD

Apr 10 2012

On Monday, April 9, Santiago Horgan, MD, chief of minimally invasive surgery at UC San Diego Health System implanted the new FDA-approved LINX device in a 29-year old patient suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a chronic digestive disease that can lead to severe inflammation, stricture, Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer.

"The multi-center clinical trial results clearly showed that the magnetic device is highly effective in treating GERD and the painful burning that results from this progressive condition," said Horgan, an international expert in treating esophageal disease. "Unlike drugs that suppress stomach acids, this flexible device corrects the anatomy and immediately addresses the actual source of reflux."

The LINX system is composed of a series of titanium beads, each with a magnetic core, that are connected to form a ring shape. It is implanted at the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a circular band of muscle that closes the last few centimeters of the esophagus and prevents the backward flow of stomach contents.

"This device has changed my life," said Gina Brickell, one of the first recipients of the LINX device. "I suffered from GERD for years. Now I can eat what I want, when I want, and where I want."

Source: UC San Diego Health System