Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation Is an Option for Patients with GERD

Some clinicians might not be familiar with magnetic sphincter augmentation, a U.S. FDA-approved treatment for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The procedure involves implanting a ring of magnetic beads around the lower esophageal sphincter; the beads increase the sphincter’s resistance to reflux, but they separate during eating to allow passage of food (Figure 1). To examine long-term outcomes, researchers conducted this 5-year, prospective, observational study that involved 200 patients who underwent magnetic sphincter augmentation with the “LINX” device.