LINX© Reflux Management System
(Germantown, Md.) — Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, part of the Holy Cross Health system, today announced that it is the first and only community hospital in Montgomery County and the third hospital in Maryland to offer the LINX® Reflux Management System, an innovative technology designed to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), commonly known as acid reflux or heartburn.
This new treatment option is offered as part of Holy Cross Health's leading-edge heartburn program, which offers the most advanced diagnostic and therapeutic techniques to treat GERD and other upper gastrointestinal conditions.
"Heartburn is fairly common and can have a significant impact on quality of life," said Bryan Steinberg, MD, thoracic robotic surgeon and chair, Robotics Committee, Holy Cross Health. "For people who have tried diet modification and continuous use of acid suppression medication without finding significant relief, this innovative procedure can be transformative. The heartburn program is changing people's lives."
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Acid reflux happens when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, the tube that runs from the mouth to the stomach. The stomach acid irritates the esophagus, causing heartburn and other unpleasant symptoms. The control of GERD not only relieves these symptoms, it also has been shown to reverse and limit the progression of Barrett's Esophagus, a risk factor for the development of esophageal cancer.
The LINX® Reflux Management System controls heartburn by restoring normal function of the esophagus. It is a small, flexible ring of magnets that is implanted around the lower end of the esophagus using a minimally invasive procedure. The device opens to allow food and liquid to enter the stomach, then closes to prevent stomach contents from moving up. Patients generally are able to go home within one day.
When used in conjunction with a hiatal hernia repair, the LINX device has eliminated the need for a Nissen fundoplication, a surgical procedure that narrows the esophageal opening by wrapping the stomach around the bottom of the esophagus. The LINX implant does not alter the anatomy, making the surgery and outcome much better tolerated and comfortable for patients.
The heartburn program is a part of Holy Cross Health's digestive health program to treat all types of gastrointestinal, stomach and colorectal health issues. The program’s multispecialty approach is supported by Holy Cross Health’s robust diagnostic and robotic surgery capabilities.
To learn more about Holy Cross Health, visit, HolyCrossHealth.org.
For media inquiries, contact Kristin Feliciano, chief strategy officer, Holy Cross Health, at 301-754-7017.
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About Holy Cross Health
Holy Cross Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit, people-centered health system that serves the two most populous counties in Maryland — Montgomery and Prince George's counties — with a commitment to being the most trusted provider of health care services in the area. Founded in 1963 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Holy Cross Health is a member of Trinity Health of Livonia, Michigan, one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation. Holy Cross Hospital, in Silver Spring, is one of the largest hospitals in Maryland, and Holy Cross Germantown Hospital is the first hospital in the nation on a community college campus, enhanced by an educational partnership. The Holy Cross Health Network operates primary care practices and affordable health centers, and offers a wide range of innovative, community-based health and wellness programs. Specialty care, home care and hospice services round out Holy Cross Health's high-quality and coordinated continuum of care that aims to improve health and move life ahead for individuals and populations in the communities served. In fiscal 2018, Holy Cross Health contributed nearly 10 percent of its $611 million revenue to community benefit activities that meet community needs and improve access to health. Learn more at HolyCrossHealth.org.