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Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 28, 2021; 27(48): 8227-8241
Published online Dec 28, 2021. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i48.8227
Magnetic challenge against gastroesophageal reflux
Mauro Bortolotti
Mauro Bortolotti, Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, S. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, University of Bologna, Bologna 40138, Italy
Mauro Bortolotti, Via Massarenti 48, Bologna 40138, Italy
Author contributions: Bortolotti M drafted the manuscript and revised the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The author declares no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mauro Bortolotti, MD, Via Massarenti 48, Bologna 40138, Italy. bormau@tin.it
Received: May 27, 2021
Peer-review started: May 27, 2021
First decision: June 21, 2021
Revised: July 7, 2021
Accepted: December 3, 2021
Article in press: December 3, 2021
Published online: December 28, 2021
Core Tip

Core Tip: The idea of a magnetic device aimed to prevent gastroesophageal reflux was conceived and realized more or less 15 years ago, for which it is time to take stock and consider its future. The first and only device available nowadays in the market is the Linx magnetic sphincter augmentation. Its effectiveness was examined and compared to that of Nissen fundoplication, whereas its complications, similar to those of the Angelchik prosthesis, were described and their pathophysiology discussed. Furthermore, the pros and cons of the upcoming magnetic anti-reflux devices were examined, underlining the fact that, working with a mechanism completely different to that of the first device, many of its complications could be avoided.