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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 4/6/2014 11:02 PM (GMT -5)
Hi all,
I am a 43, almost 44, year old female. I have had refulx since I was in my 20's. In 1997 I was one of the first to have the Nissen Fundo. Unfortunately, it lasted only about one year. :(

As I have aged, my refulx has become absolutely intolerable. I had to go off my meds for 10 days for a test and I can honestly say that I would have preferred to have been in labor those 10 days then having been off my meds. I was in so much pain.

I have been told by several Docs that I should not redo nissen fundo due to potential scar tissues problems. I recently had a probe which showed the knot had slipped. My gastro has recommended the Linx procedure. I met with a surgeon who has been studying this surgery in depth for 3 years but hasn't performed any. Obviously, I do not wish to be the guinea pig.

Any idea how I would find out who are the top 3 surgeons in the US that have performed the most successful Linx procedures?

Blue Cross Blue Shields vary throughout the States. So frustrating. Not sure if they will cover. A different medical procedure was covered for a friend of mine and I was denied and we live in same State. Grrr!

Any insight would be most appreciated! Thank you in advance!
Posted 4/7/2014 9:58 AM (GMT -5)
Good Morning,

I found this info for you but please remember I am only sharing information.  You must decided which Dr. to look into as far as success rates ETC.

"Paul Taiganides, M.D., is the medical director of the Knox Regional Heartburn Treatment Center at Knox Community Hospital in Mount Vernon, Ohio. Dr. Taiganides and Knox Community Hospital were one of 14 locations selected to participate in the initial US clinical trials for the LINX device. Since then, Dr. Taiganides has performed more LINX procedures than any other U.S. surgeon. The center has done more than 700 Nissen fundoplication surgical procedures in the last seven years."

 

"John C. Lipham, M.D. is Chief of the Division of Upper GI and General Surgery and Associate Professor of Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC - University of Southern California." 

"F. Paul Buckley III, MD, at Scott & White Hospital – Round Rock, Texas. Dr. Buckley,  serves as Director of the Division of General Surgery and Surgical Director of the Heartburn and Acid Reflux Center (HARC) at Scott & White – Round Rock, TX."

I do not have any personal knowledge re these 3 physicians - so please investigate  them well if you choose to check one of them out for surgery.

I tried calling TORAX who manufactures the device and they only list hospitals and will not give out a Drs. name but will give you the name of GI clinics in your area.

 

I am sure you will be hearing from other members who have more info for you.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 4/7/2014 3:28 PM (GMT -5)
beth, I'm really sorry about your situation. I had linx surgery 5 weeks ago, it was done at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA, by Dr. G. Kevin Gillian. While he has only done 30-something linx surgeries, he's done lots more fundoplications and hernia repairs, etc.

Might be worth it to ask his office (he has a physicians assistant working with him, her name is Divya) what they think?

I had heard that you can't have linx after fundo, but I was also told they wouldn't place a linx if you had a large hiatal hernia, and Dr. Gillian repaired my hernia and placed the linx in the same surgery, so who knows?!

Good luck,
Erica
Posted 4/7/2014 3:30 PM (GMT -5)
I will also add that Dr. Gillian is really, really nice, not aloof and haughty like you hear a lot of surgeons are. And you could visit the nation's capitol if you have surgery here!
Posted 4/7/2014 5:40 PM (GMT -5)
bethj. Go to:

Www.linxforlife.com

Insert your zip code and it brings up the nearest Linx physicians. We recommend Dr. C. Daniel Smith in Atlanta Georgia. He was Chief of Surgery at Mayo and previously affiliated with Torax, the manufacture of the Linx. He also appeared in front of the FDA for its approval following studies. I'm not sure , but we don't think they can implant the Linx if you have had a fundo because there has been alterations to your body. Please discuss carefully with your doctors. There are friends on this forum that have had re-do's of their fundo with success. You will be hearing from more forum friends shortly.

Hope you feel better. Let us know how you are. Welcome to Healing Well
Posted 4/8/2014 10:14 AM (GMT -5)
Great input from people with actual knowledge................thanks all for you input.

bethj ~ I hope you get back to read these posts.

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