Reconstruction instead of constriction
The conventional concept of an isolated esophageal sphincter is now considered outdated.
The closure mechanism in humans
does not rely on a single muscle —
👉 but on the coordinated interaction of the diaphragm, heart, esophagus, and stomach.
Scientific foundation
👉 In particular, the decisive role of the heart was scientifically investigated and first described by Dr. med. Eckhard Löhde.
These findings form the basis of the surgical procedure he developed:
Laparoscopic oesophago-hiatal DeltaMesh enhancement (l.oe.h.d.e. procedure)
The underlying cause
👉 Reflux is therefore not a disease of the esophagus!
👉 Reflux is the result of a small but crucial displacement of the esophagus.
👉 Why? Because the disrupted diaphragm can no longer maintain the proper anatomical order.
Like a clockwork mechanism
👉 If a single gear slips, the entire clock stops — even though each individual component remains intact.
Principle of the procedure
👉 1. Restoration of the natural interaction between the organs
👉 2. Reliable stabilization of the diaphragm
This means:
👉 no wrapping of the esophagus
👉 no sutures on the esophagus or stomach
👉 exclusive reconstruction of the diaphragm
DeltaMesh
Long-term stability of the diaphragm is essential.
For this reason, Dr. med. Eckhard Löhde developed an implant specifically adapted to the unique anatomy of the diaphragm.
The key difference
👉 it is not about covering a defect with a mesh, as in conventional approaches
👉 but about inducing an active, intrinsic healing response of the muscles
Because nothing heals as effectively as nature itself.
DeltaMesh
is small (approx. 3 cm)
tissue integration begins within hours
the diaphragm stabilizes itself from within
👉 The resulting tissue stability exceeds the original strength of the diaphragm. Order and function are durably restored.
Visualization of the procedure
The following video illustrates the surgical technique.