Reflux Esophagitis (GERD) — LINX System: treatment in the Best Hospitals of Germany
Treatment prices are regulated by national law of the corresponding countries, but can also include additional hospital coefficients. In order to receive the individual cost calculation, please send us the request and medical records.
Department for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
The Department for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease offers all the options of modern medicine for the elimination of this disease. The department's specialists give preference to an individualized treatment approach, and therefore they comprehensively assess each clinical case and select the necessary complex of therapeutic measures for each patient. Whenever possible, the doctors use conservative methods, but patients with advanced stages of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) require surgery. The team of the department's surgeons has excellent skills in Nissen fundoplication and LINX Reflux Management System implantation, which are the most effective for GERD treatment. In most cases, the department's surgeons perform interventions using sparing minimally invasive techniques, which require only a few skin incisions to form a surgical access. Such progressive operations contribute to the speedy recovery of the patient after surgery, and also minimize the risks of developing severe bleeding and infections.
Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hernia Surgery and Bariatric Surgery
The Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hernia Surgery and Bariatric Surgery provides the full range of surgical treatment in its field of competence. The department's highly qualified surgeons annually perform about 2,000 surgical interventions. Extensive clinical experience allows the specialists to perform even particularly complex operations. The department’s advanced operating rooms serve for surgery to treat gastrointestinal diseases, liver, gallbladder, bile duct, pancreatic, rectal, anal and colon pathologies. The medical facility also successfully performs operations to treat hernias: inguinal, umbilical, and anterior abdominal wall hernias. In addition, the department's doctors deal with the surgical treatment of morbid obesity. Minor traumatic laparoscopic interventions are considered the gold standard, which guarantee a patient minimal risks and rapid postoperative restoration. Surgeons tell the patient in detail about their upcoming treatment and, in every possible way, support them in their recovery.
Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Endocrine Surgery and Hernia Surgery
The Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Endocrine Surgery and Hernia Surgery offers the full range of modern surgical interventions in the areas of its specialization. Every year, the medical facility performs more than 2,500 surgical interventions on an inpatient and outpatient basis. The department has vast clinical experience in the field of minimally invasive surgery, which allows the patient to avoid severe pain and prolonged hospitalization. In addition, the department offers robotic surgery using the most modern models of the da Vinci surgical system. The medical facility has the status of the Reference Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery and Hernia Surgery. Surgical treatment of cancer is one of the department's clinical priority focuses. A large number of da Vinci robot-assisted interventions are performed here for gastrointestinal cancers. The department holds a leading position in the use of the da Vinci surgical system in the treatment of rectal and sigmoid cancer patients. The operating rooms of the medical facility are equipped with the very latest technology, while hygiene and safety standards are at the highest level as well. Prior to surgery, the patient undergoes a comprehensive examination. Doctors also assess the risks of the upcoming operation and its expected results. With appropriate clinical indications, preference is always given to minimally invasive surgery.
Department of General, Abdominal, Transplant, Hepatopancreatobiliary, Colorectal, Endocrine, Bariatric Surgery and Hernia Surgery
The Department of General, Abdominal, Transplant, Hepatopancreatobiliary, Colorectal, Endocrine, Bariatric Surgery and Hernia Surgery provides the full range of services in the areas of its specialization and holds a leading position at the national and international levels in terms of the number of surgical interventions performed and their success. Of particular interest are operations for treating diseases of the bowel, stomach, esophagus, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts, and endocrine glands. The department's doctors have excellent skills in the surgical treatment of cancer, surgery for liver, kidney, pancreas, and small intestine transplants, and operations for morbid obesity. The department's operating rooms are the pride of the medical facility, since they have all the necessary technical options for performing operations with the da Vinci surgical system, image-guided interventions, and endoscopic surgical procedures, which are characterized by minimal trauma rates.
Department of General, Abdominal and Vascular Surgery
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of General, Abdominal and Vascular Surgery ranks among the top German medical facilities specializing in the treatment of bowel and lung cancer! The department offers all the modern surgical options for the treatment of diseases of the abdominal cavity and blood vessels. The department's doctors have expert knowledge and vast experience in the treatment of colorectal cancer, stomach, esophageal, pancreatic cancers, liver metastases, inflammatory bowel diseases (diverticular disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis). Also, they specialize in the surgical treatment of vascular pathologies and thyroid diseases.
Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Endocrine Surgery, Hernia Surgery and Bariatric Surgery
The Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Endocrine Surgery, Hernia Surgery and Bariatric Surgery offers the full range of effective surgical treatments in accordance with modern medical standards. Operations of varying complexity are performed on the stomach, colon, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, rectum, thyroid gland, and parathyroid glands in the department's operating rooms every day. The department's primary focus is the surgical treatment of malignant gastrointestinal tumors. The medical facility is certified in this area by the German Cancer Society (DKG). The team of endocrine surgeons specializes in the treatment of diseases of the thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, and adrenal glands. Patients with morbid obesity are also successfully operated on here. In their work, the department’s specialists primarily use minimally invasive surgical techniques, which virtually eliminate trauma to healthy tissue during the intervention. The department's operating suite is equipped with an innovative da Vinci Surgical System, which allows the doctors to perform sparing and high-precision surgical interventions. The specialists of the medical facility strictly adhere to hygiene and safety standards and create the most comfortable conditions for each patient during their hospital stays.
Department of Adult and Pediatric General, Abdominal, Transplant Surgery
According to Focus magazine, the Department of Adult and Pediatric General, Abdominal, Transplant Surgery ranks among the top German medical facilities specializing in bowel cancer treatment! The department performs surgical treatment of general surgical diseases, abdominal pathologies, and also specializes in organ transplantation. Of particular interest are surgical oncology of the abdominal organs, as well as pancreatic and liver surgery. The department annually performs more than 3,000 surgical interventions, which contributes to its credibility at the national level.
Department of Abdominal and Colorectal Surgery, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hernia Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, Endocrine Surgery, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery
The Department of Abdominal and Colorectal Surgery, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hernia Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, Endocrine Surgery, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery offers the full range of services in these medical fields. It provides surgical treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, thyroid and parathyroid glands, thoracic organs, vascular system, rectum, anus and colon. In addition, the department performs bariatric interventions for the treatment of morbid obesity. A special focus is made on the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer. Minimally invasive surgical techniques are always preferred, if clinically indicated. The team of the department's surgeons has 8 progressive operating rooms equipped with everything necessary for successful treatment. The department also has the da Vinci Xi surgical system for high-precision minimally invasive robot-assisted interventions. The patient's health is in the safe hands of the best German surgeons who have gone through a rigorous selection and have vast clinical experience.
Department of Abdominal, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery
The Department of Abdominal, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery offers all modern surgical interventions in these fields. Specialization covers the treatment of diseases of the abdominal organs, endocrine glands, pathologies of the lungs and chest wall, pathological vascular lesions of all parts of the body. In addition, kidney transplantation and pancreas transplantation are part of the surgeons' tasks. Whenever possible, operations are performed using minimally invasive techniques that have several advantages over classical interventions.
Department of General and Abdominal Surgery
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of General and Abdominal Surgery ranks among the top German departments specializing in bowel cancer treatment! The department offers the full range of classical and minimally invasive methods for the treatment of common surgical diseases, cancer pathologies, diseases of the endocrine organs, proctological problems. The specialization also covers transplant surgery (liver, kidney and pancreas transplantation). The department is certified by the German Cancer Society for its outstanding results in the treatment of bowel, pancreatic, stomach and liver cancers.
Department of General, Abdominal and Vascular Surgery
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of General, Abdominal and Vascular Surgery ranks among the top German medical facilities specializing in the treatment of bowel cancer! The department offers the full range of surgical treatment of diseases of the abdominal organs and blood vessels, including the transplantation of abdominal organs. The sparing minimally invasive surgical techniques are widely used in the clinical practice, which allow to provide treatment in simple and complex clinical cases by making small incisions and using special tiny surgical instruments. The exceptional experience and profound knowledge of the department's doctors are also an integral part of the high treatment success rates.
Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Hernia Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Endocrine Surgery and Bariatric Surgery
The Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Hernia Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Endocrine Surgery and Bariatric Surgery offers a full range of surgical treatments in its areas of specialization at the highest level of university medicine. The department operates on patients with abdominal cancers, with a special focus on stomach, esophageal, colon, pancreatic, and liver cancers, inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, hernias, and vascular diseases, as well as pathologies of the thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, and neuroendocrine tumors. The department is certified in accordance with the standards of the German Cancer Society (DKG) for its high success rates in the surgical treatment of oncological diseases and has also been awarded the DGH Siegel certificate by the German Hernia Society. The department presents the direction of bariatric surgery, whose specialists excel in the treatment of morbid obesity with procedures such as gastric bypass, gastric banding, sleeve gastroplasty, and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. In their clinical practice, the department's surgeons mainly use modern minimally traumatic surgical techniques. The department performs minimally invasive, robotic (da Vinci Si® and Xi® systems), and endovascular surgery. It is important to the specialists at the medical facility to provide each patient with the best therapeutic results with a high degree of safety.
Department of General, Abdominal and Transplant Surgery
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of General, Abdominal and Transplant Surgery ranks among the top German departments specializing in bowel cancer treatment! The department offers the full range of services in these medical fields and guarantees the first-class medical care at the university level. The department specializes in the treatment of diseases of the abdominal cavity, esophagus and thyroid gland, transplantation of liver, kidney and pancreas. The medical facility has won the reputation of one of the three largest and most successful Transplant Centers in Germany. Also, within the clinical practice, doctors hold highly-specialized consultations on rare diseases and provide 24-hour emergency care.
Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Hernia Surgery, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Endocrine Surgery, Thoracic Surgery and Bariatric Surgery
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Hernia Surgery, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Endocrine Surgery, Thoracic Surgery and Bariatric Surgery is one of the best medical facilities in Germany for colorectal cancer treatment! The department offers a full range of surgical treatment in its areas of specialization. The department successfully operates on patients with diseases of the digestive tract, hernias, pathologies of the liver and gallbladder, colon and rectum, thyroid gland and parathyroid glands, as well as diseases of the lungs, pleura, and chest wall. The department offers all currently available surgical procedures for the treatment of morbid obesity. Bariatric surgery is performed in the Center of Excellence certified by the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV). It should be noted that the department has a reputation as one of the best medical institutions in Germany with enormous experience in the field of pancreatic and esophageal surgery and resection of periampullary tumors. Almost all surgical procedures in the department are performed using minimally invasive and robotic techniques. This treatment provides good results while minimizing postoperative recovery time and eliminating serious surgical risks. The department also provides innovative treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis using HIPEC, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The department performs more than 5,100 surgical procedures of varying complexity each year, most of them on an outpatient basis.
Department of General, Abdominal, Transplant, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery
The Department of General, Abdominal, Transplant, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery covers the whole range of services in these fields. The department specializes in the treatment of diseases of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, thyroid and parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, as well as overweight. In addition, the department is a recognized Center for Vascular and Pediatric Surgery.
Department of General, Abdominal, Adult and Pediatric Transplant Surgery
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of General, Abdominal, Adult and Pediatric Transplant Surgery ranks among the top German departments specializing in the treatment of bowel cancer! The department specializes in the treatment of tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, liver, and retroperitoneal space (peritoneal carcinomatosis), liver, kidney, pancreas, bowel transplantations in children and adults, as well as the surgical treatment of obesity and general surgical interventions.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a widespread medical condition. In the last decade, esophageal reflux disease has been in the area of increased attention due to a tendency of severe reflux esophagitis appearance and an increase in cancer of the esophagus development. The minimally invasive surgery with LINX reflux management system placement is a novel approach that guarantees complete GERD cure.
Overview
Reflux esophagitis is the return of stomach and/or duodenal contents into the esophagus. This physiological phenomenon is widespread and is noticed in generally healthy patients of any age. Therefore, it is often called simply reflux, although pathological "reverse flow" is observed in other body systems (e.g., the cardiovascular system with malformations). In general, reflux disease (or some of its manifestations) as a pathology, occurs in about 40% of the adult population. The prevalence of reflux esophagitis in developed countries reaches 50-60% and is growing steadily every year.
The prognosis for patients with reflux esophagitis is determined by the complications of the disease, such as peptic stricture, Barrett's esophagus, and ulcerative lesions of the esophagus. The drug therapy schemes with the use of modern and most effective drugs have significantly reduced the risk of complications and increased the quality of life of patients. However, it must be noted that the cause of the development of the disease is an organic pathology, and it is sometimes not possible to influence it with certain medical preparations.
Symptoms
There’s a medical saying: "It is impossible to describe heartburn to someone who has never experienced it, and there is no need to explain it to someone who has it". Heartburn, a tearing burning sensation in the upper esophagus, is the most common symptom of reflux esophagitis and GERD. Also, typical symptoms include:
- Taste of food eaten some time ago, appearing after belching
- A small amount of half-digested gastric contents in the mouth, which occurs without prior nausea during different movements (may not be noticed in some cases)
- Taste or streaks of blood in saliva (erosive inflammation of the esophagus is often accompanied by bleeding)
Causes
The main cause of reflux disease is the dysfunction of the sphincter, the muscle valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach. Sphincter disorders can be caused by:
- Improper diet (including the habit of eating lying down, frequent alcohol consumption, smoking, carbonated drinks consumption, or other factors that irritate the mucous membranes of the upper gastrointestinal tract)
- Inflammatory and ulcerative diseases of the stomach and/or duodenum
- Individual anatomical features of patients
- Hernia
- Pylorospasm (pyloric sphincter dysfunction that is located between the stomach and duodenum)
- Cholecystitis
- Taking certain medications (anticholinergic, antihistamines, etc.)
- Postoperative syndrome, as a result of surgical treatment of the gastrointestinal tract
Diagnostics
To assess the severity and causes of the reflux disease development, it is necessary to answer several questions:
- Is there pathological gastroesophageal reflux?
- Are there any changes in the esophageal mucosa?
- Are there any disorders of esophageal motility?
Changes in the esophageal mucosa and their degree can be easily assessed using the endoscopic examination. Besides, it allows doctors to reveal a hiatal hernia, determine the acidity of gastric contents, and perform a targeted biopsy.
It is possible to evaluate the motility of the esophagus, confirm the hiatal hernia, assess the tone of the cardia, the condition of the fornix of the stomach, and the length of the abdominal segment of the esophagus, and determine the degree of reflux using X-ray examination.
When examining patients with chronic esophagitis, two issues are fundamental. The first is the exclusion of pathology of the heart, that is often accompanied by chest pain. The second is the disease known as Barrett's esophagus. Clinically, it manifests itself with symptoms similar to reflux esophagitis. But at the same time, the disease is much more serious, since Barrett's esophagus is considered a precancerous condition.
The instrumental examination methods, which are usually used when esophagitis or gastroduodenitis is suspected, include:
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
- Manometry of the esophagus
The diagnostic departments of hospitals in Germany allow for a full examination to be performed.
Treatment
Unfortunately, conservative treatment of the reflux esophagitis and medications that reduce acid release are not effective in all cases.
In hospitals in Germany, the treatment of reflux disease is successfully carried out with an operative laparoscopic method, which is certainly the least traumatic for the patient.
Due to the constant improvement of the technique of laparoscopic treatment of reflux esophagitis in hospitals in Germany, the number of relapses has decreased significantly.
The use of modern laparoscopic technology in Germany with an enlarged image projected onto a monitor allows achieving the most accurate visualization of all the thinnest anatomical structures in the operation area. With the help of a laparoscope, it is also possible to take tissue samples for biopsy.
Thanks to the use of the most modern systems and the latest techniques in hospitals in Germany, the symptoms of reflux esophagitis can be eliminated quickly and with minimal side effects.
Hospitals in Germany have recently opened up new possibilities for the treatment of patients with reflux disease. This is the LINX reflux management system.
The therapy with the LINX reflux management device has been specifically developed to treat reflux disease. The LINX reflux management system does not require any anatomical changes in the stomach, unlike traditional surgery techniques used for reflux disease.
The LINX reflux management device is a small flexible ring of interconnected titanium balls with magnetic cores. The magnetic attraction between the balls helps the lower esophageal sphincter resist intragastric pressure without opening up and preventing reflux from the stomach into the esophagus. The LINX reflux management device is designed in such a way that the forces that expand the lower esophageal sphincter temporarily exceed the magnetism, allowing food and liquid to pass normally into the stomach. The magnetic attraction between the balls is designed to close the sphincter immediately after swallowing, restoring the body's natural barrier to gastroesophageal reflux.
As a rule, the abdominal wall is not fully opened during the intervention, so a minimally invasive approach is used with the LINX reflux management device.The procedure is performed under general anesthesia so that the patient does not feel any pain. The surgery usually takes about an hour.
The LINX reflux management device is positioned around the esophagus just above the stomach. The LINX insertion surgery is performed laparoscopically, through small holes in the patient's body.
The LINX reflux management device is a small, flexible, ribbed chain that is secured around the gastric part of esophagus. Therefore, it does not require anatomical changes in the stomach. During the surgery, patients are under general anesthesia. Most patients go home and return to their usual diet in about a day after surgery for the LINX reflux management device installation.
The LINX reflux management device quickly relieves the symptoms of reflux disease. During a small laparoscopic operation ("keyhole technology"), the lower esophageal sphincter muscle is strengthened, quickly, and easily restoring its barrier function. The system can significantly improve the quality of life of patients.
With the LINX reflux management device, reflux symptoms can be quickly and easily treated, making life much easier for patients by relieving epigastric discomfort. Using a minimally invasive surgery, the lower esophageal sphincter muscle is strengthened, leading to complete restoration of the impaired barrier function.
This surgery is usually possible in almost all patients with reflux and associated symptoms. Doctors in Germany conduct thorough diagnostics for each patient to know exactly if the LINX reflux management system is suitable for him.
Typically, patients can resume their normal lifestyle in a week, and consume the foods that they like. Side effects are usually minimal and disappear over time.
Where can I undergo reflux esophagitis treatment in Germany?
Health tourism is becoming more and more popular these days, as a treatment in Germany, for example, often ensures a much better quality of reflux esophagitis treatment.
The following hospitals demonstrate the best success rates in reflux esophagitis treatment with the LINX system in Germany:
- Academic Hospital Regio Pinneberg
- Academic Hospital Brothers of Mercy Munich
- University Hospital of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
- Charite University Hospital Berlin
- University Hospital Ulm
- University Hospital RWTH Aachen
You can find more information about the hospitals in Germany on the Booking Health website.
The cost of treatment in Germany
The prices in hospitals listed on the Booking Health website are relatively low. With Booking Health, you can undergo reflux esophagitis treatment in Germany at an affordable price.
The cost of treatment in Germany varies, as the price depends on the hospital, specifics of the disease, and the complexity of its treatment.
The average cost of treatment with the LINX reflux management system in Germany is in the range of 23,250-50,924 EUR.
You also need to consider the cost of possible additional procedures and follow-up care. Therefore, the ultimate cost of treatment in Germany may differ from the initial price.
To make sure that the overall cost of treatment in Germany is suitable for you, contact us by leaving the request on the Booking Health website.
How can I undergo reflux esophagitis treatment in Germany?
It is not easy to self-organize any treatment abroad. It requires certain knowledge and expertise. Thus, it is safer, easier, and less stressful to shift some responsibility onto a medical tourism agency.
As the largest and most transparent medical tourism agency in the world, Booking Health has up-to-date information about reflux esophagitis treatment in the best hospitals in Germany. Therefore, we will help you select the right clinic taking into account your wishes for treatment.
We want to help you and take on all the troubles. You can be free of unnecessary stress, while Booking Health takes care of all organizational issues regarding the treatment. Our services are aimed at you safely and successfully undergoing reflux esophagitis treatment.
Medical tourism can be easy! All you need to do is to leave a request on the Booking Health website, and our manager will contact you shortly.
