Long-term outcome of antireflux surgery in patients with Barrett's esophagus

Review article: approaches to Barrett's oesophagus treatment-the role of proton pump inhibitors and other interventions

Despite implementation of screening and surveillance strategies, a significantly large number of patients with Barrett's oesophagus remain undiagnosed. In those who are identified, the management options include acid reduction therapies with proton pump inhibitors or anti-reflux surgery. Endoscopic ablative therapies have also been attempted. In addition to having inherent procedure-related risks with ablative therapies, these alternatives may be limited by high rates of failure, need for continued acid suppressive therapy, metaplasia persistence under otherwise normal appearing tissue, need for procedural expertise, and continued risk for adenocarcinoma development. Therefore, a widely applicable chemoprevention strategy that cost-effectively reduces the rate of progression from oesophagitis to adenocarcinoma in high-risk patients and perhaps those at lower rates of risk is highly desirable. The AspECT trial currently underway is seeking to determine the effects of high- and low-dose proton pump inhibitor therapy with and without low-dose aspirin as Barrett's oesophagus chemoprevention.

Efficacy of laparoscopic antireflux surgery in patients with Barrett's esophagus

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic antireflux surgery (LARS) corrects significant physiologic and anatomic abnormalities in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); however, debate exists whether LARS prevents recurrent symptoms and malignant transformation in patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE). This study compared clinical outcomes after LARS in patients with and without BE.

METHODS

From 1994 to 2001, 448 patients who underwent LARS were studied. Of these, 68 (15%) had preoperative evidence of BE with low-grade dysplasia in 3 (4%), and 380 (85%) were without BE. Mean postoperative follow-up was more than 30 months in each group.

RESULTS

After LARS, there was equivalent reduction in acid reduction medication use and typical GERD symptoms in both groups. Anatomic failures developed in 12% of patients with BE and in 5% of those without BE (P = 0.05). Upper endoscopy with biopsies was obtained in 50 of 68 patients (74%) with BE at 37 +/- 22 months postoperatively. Intestinal metaplasia was no longer present in 7 of 50 (14%) BE patients, and low-grade dysplasia regressed to nondysplastic Barrett's in 2 of 3 patients. New low-grade dysplasia developed in 1 BE patient (2%) at postoperative endoscopic surveillance. No BE patients developed high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

After LARS, patients with BE have symptomatic relief and reduction in medication use equivalent to non-BE patients. Regression of intestinal metaplasia and the absence of progression to high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma suggest that LARS is an effective approach for the management of patients with Barrett's esophagus. The higher failure rate of LARS in BE is of concern and mandates ongoing follow-up of these patients.

Surgery of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a competitive or complementary procedure?

The management of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has both been simplified and immensely improved by the development of modern medical therapies. These are built entirely on the concept of profound acid inhibition, which is very successful in a substantial proportion of GERD patients. Despite the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) some failures are unavoidable, and some patients experience incomplete control of major GERD symptoms on ordinary dosing of PPIs. Although the safety profile of PPIs is very reassuring, some people express some concern about the safety of drug treatment extending beyond 10 years especially when alternative therapeutic strategies are available. Some patients complain of alleged respiratory complications to severe reflux, and in those situations as well as in cases with e.g. Barrett's esophagus, a complete control of reflux also incorporating the duodenal components in the refluxate may be warranted. In all those situations antireflux surgery can be considered indicated for the treatment of chronic GERD and thus be looked upon as complementary to medical therapy. Furthermore, some patients who have their GERD symptoms under control on PPIs still want to have an operation to avoid dependency on drugs. Hence in none of these clinical situations does antireflux surgery play a competitive role in relation to medical therapy. However, in the very few randomized clinical trials in which a head-to-head comparison has been completed between medical and surgical therapy, the latter has been found to be somewhat more effective in terms of reflux control. The other side of the coin is that antireflux surgery has some side effects that signify the importance of this surgery being performed in specialized centers.

Increasing esophageal length: a comparison of laparoscopic versus transthoracic esophageal mobilization with and without vagal trunk division in pigs

BACKGROUND

New laparoscopic techniques allow both mediastinal mobilization and performance of a Collis gastroplasty when necessary, and the utility of a transthoracic approach is questioned. The aim of this study was to compare the increase in esophageal length achievable with laparoscopic and transthoracic esophageal mobilization in pigs, and to assess the impact of vagal trunk division on esophageal length.

STUDY DESIGN

Baseline esophageal length was obtained in 20 farm pigs by measuring the distance between a stitch placed in the esophagus to a K-wire placed in a vertebral body. Subsequently, laparoscopic and then transthoracic mediastinal mobilization of the esophagus were performed in 15 pigs and the length gain after each procedure recorded. In 7 of 15 animals, the vagal nerve trunks were divided after esophageal mobilization and the increase in esophageal length measured. In five animals, vagal trunk division was performed without earlier esophageal mobilization.

RESULTS

Esophageal length gain after laparoscopic mobilization (median 4 mm) was significantly less than that after transthoracic mobilization (median 12 mm, p < 0.0001). Unilateral vagal nerve transection resulted in a median 2.5 mm of esophageal length gain compared with a median of 6.25 mm with division of both vagal trunks. Maximal esophageal lengthening (median 18.5 mm) occurred with a combination of esophageal mobilization and bilateral vagal trunk division.

CONCLUSIONS

Esophageal length gain after transthoracic mobilization in normal pigs is significant, and would likely be even greater in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease with concomitant mediastinal inflammation. Transthoracic mobilization alone likely will allow successful reduction of the gastroesophageal junction below the diaphragm in many patients who might otherwise require a Collis gastroplasty.

Clinical and pathologic response of Barrett's esophagus to laparoscopic antireflux surgery

BACKGROUND DATA

Patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) are frequently offered laparoscopic antireflux surgery (LARS) to treat symptoms. The effectiveness of this operation with regards to symptoms and to the evolution of the columnar-lined epithelium remains controversial.

METHODS

We analyzed the course of 106 consecutive patients with BE who underwent LARS between 1994 and 2000, representing 14% of all LARS (754) performed in our institution during that period. All 106 patients agreed to clinical follow-up in 2002 at 40 months (median; range, 12-95 months). Fifty-three patients (50%) agreed to functional evaluation (manometry and 24-hour pH monitoring); 90 patients (85%) to thorough endoscopy, with appropriate biopsies and histologic evaluation to determine the status of BE.

RESULTS

Heartburn improved in 94 (96%) of 98 and resolved in 69 patients (70%) after LARS. Regurgitation improved in 58 (84%) of 69 and dysphagia improved in 27 (82%) of 33. Distal esophageal acid exposure improved in 48 (91%) of 53 patients tested and returned to normal in 39 patients (74%). One patient underwent reoperation 2 days after fundoplication (gastric perforation). Preoperatively, biopsy revealed BE without dysplasia in 91 patients, BE indefinite for dysplasia in 12 patients, and low-grade dysplasia in 3 patients. Fifty-four of the 90 patients with endoscopic follow-up had short-segment BE (<3cm), and 36 had long-segment BE (>3cm) preoperatively. Postoperatively, endoscopy and pathology revealed complete regression of intestinal metaplasia (absence of any sign suggestive of BE) in 30 (55%) of 54 patients with short-segment BE but in 0 of 36 of those with long-segment BE. Among patients with complete regression, 89% of those tested with pH monitoring had normal esophageal acid exposure. This was observed in 69% of those who failed to have complete regression. One patient developed adenocarcinoma within 10 months of LARS.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with BE, LARS provides excellent control of symptoms and esophageal acid exposure. Moreover, intestinal metaplasia regressed in the majority of patients who had short-segment BE and normal pH monitoring following LARS, a fact that was, heretofore, not appreciated. LARS should be recommended to patients with BE to quell symptoms and to prevent the development of cancer.

Endoscopic treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD): a systematic review

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease represents an extremely common disorder which has a substantial impact on patients' quality of life and use of health care resources. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease is a chronic relapsing disease for which a lifelong solution is needed. Until now the two competing therapeutic modalities have been the medical and surgical therapies. Quite recently a third option has become available. A number of endoscopic anti-reflux procedures have been described, with the common goal of creating an anti-reflux barrier, thus obviating long-term proton pump inhibitors and the cost and potential risk of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. In this review the different techniques are thoroughly examined and the results are critically evaluated, giving special emphasis to efficacy, safety and durability of these new anti-reflux procedures. Available data show that these anti-reflux techniques produce significant improvement in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptomatology and quality of life as well as reduce the use of anti-reflux medication, without causing serious morbidity or mortality. However, the majority of these techniques have failed to adequately control oesophageal acid reflux. Endoscopic anti-reflux therapies therefore sound very attractive-being less invasive than surgery-and show a significant promise, but are still in the early stages of assessment. Large-scale randomized multi-centre trials comparing control groups with sham procedures are essential to confirm their efficacy. Further studies are also necessary to determine what modifications these techniques require in order to produce maximum clinical efficacy and durability. However, considering that current therapies (both medical and surgical) of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease are highly effective, the need for such new endoscopic modalities may be questionable. Moreover, appropriate trials in dedicated centres should be carried out to assure that the enthusiasm commonly associated with new technology is justified and can be generalized to open-access endoscopists.

Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication Improves Quality of Life in Patients with Atypical Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication has been shown to improve overall quality of life (QOL) in patients with gastroesophageal reflux, but most studies have not addressed patients with atypical symptoms. We investigated the effect of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication on QOL using the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) survey modified to address both typical (heartburn, regurgitation, dysphagia) and atypical (hoarse voice, chronic cough, adult-onset asthma, vocal cord polyps) symptoms. One-hundred forty-eight patients underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) at UCLA Medical Center from January 1, 1995 to May 1, 2002. Surveys evaluating pre- and postoperative QOL were administered after surgery: 55 per cent of patients responded (82/148). Forty-eight per cent of all patients (72/148) had atypical symptoms. Perioperative morbidity and mortality were 8.8 per cent and 0.7 per cent, respectively. Mean length of postoperative stay was 2.96 ± 1.5 days. Mean follow-up for the entire cohort was 18.5 months. Postoperative dysphagia not present before surgery occurred in 4.7 per cent of patients. Eighty per cent of patients were medication-free following surgery. QOL scores for all participants increased significantly from 52.5 ± 15.3 preoperatively to 72.0 ± 14.9 postoperatively ( P < 0.0001). Patients with atypical symptoms or typical symptoms alone showed significant mean QOL score increases from 48.3 ± 17.6 preoperatively to 71 ± 15.7 postoperatively ( P < 0.0001) and from 55.7 ± 12.6 to 72.8 ± 14.4 ( P < 0.0001), respectively. Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication can effectively improve overall QOL for patients with GERD. Patients with atypical GERD symptoms can experience increases in QOL similar to those with only typical gastrointestinal symptoms.

Surgical therapies in Barrett's esophagus

The two main aspects relevant to the role of surgery in the management of patients with Barrett's esophagus are to define the role of surgery in controlling reflux and associated symptoms and to define the surgical options in case of dysplasia or early neoplasia. This article also will address the issue of whether complete reflux control in patients with Barrett's esophagus can prevent the metaplastic mucosa from further progression to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma.

Barrett's esophagus can and does regress after antireflux surgery: a study of prevalence and predictive features

BACKGROUND

To investigate the factors leading to histologic regression of metaplastic and dysplastic Barrett's esophagus (BE).

STUDY DESIGN

The study sample consisted of 91 consecutive patients with symptomatic Barrett's esophagus. Pre- and posttreatment endoscopic biopsies from 77 Barrett's patients treated surgically and 14 treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPI) were reviewed. An expert pathologist confirmed the presence of intestinal metaplasia (IM) with or without dysplasia. Posttreatment histology was classified as having regressed if two consecutive biopsies taken more than 6 months apart plus all subsequent biopsies showed loss of IM or loss of dysplasia. Clinical factors associated with regression were studied by multivariate analysis, as was the time course of its occurrence.

RESULTS

Histopathologic regression occurred in 28 of 77 patients (36.4%) after antireflux surgery and in 1 of 14 patients (7.1%) treated with PPIs alone (p < 0.03). After surgery, regression from low-grade dysplastic to nondysplastic BE occurred in 17 of 25 patients (68%) and from IM to no IM in 11 of 52 (21.2%). Both types of regression were significantly more common in short (< 3 cm) than long (> 3 cm) segment Barrett's esophagus; 19 of 33 (58%) and 9 of 44 (20%) patients, respectively (p = 0.0016). Eight patients progressed, five from IM alone to low-grade dysplasia and three from low- to high-grade dysplasia. All those who progressed had long segment BE. On multivariate analysis, presence of short segment Barrett's and type of treatment were significantly associated with regression; age, gender, surgical procedure, and preoperative lower esophageal sphincter and pH characteristics were not. The median time of biopsy-proved regression was 18.5 months after surgery, with 95% occurring within 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS

This study refutes the widely held assumption that once established, Barrett's esophagus does not change. More than one-third of patients with visible segments of Barrett's esophagus undergo histologic regression after antireflux surgery. Regression is dependent on the length of the columnar-lined esophagus and time of followup after antireflux surgery.

Long-term results of a randomized prospective study comparing medical and surgical treatment of Barrett's esophagus

OBJECTIVE

To compare the results of medical treatment and antireflux surgery in patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE).

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

The treatment of choice in BE is still controversial. Some clinical studies suggest that surgery could be more effective than medical treatment in preventing BE from progressing to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. However, data from prospective comparative studies are necessary to answer this question.

METHODS

One hundred one patients were included in a randomized prospective study, 43 with medical treatment and 58 with antireflux surgery. All patients underwent clinical, endoscopic, and histologic assessment. Functional studies were performed in all the operated patients and in a subgroup of patients receiving medical treatment. The median follow-up was 5 years (range 1-18) in the medical treatment group and 6 years (range 1-18) in the surgical treatment group.

RESULTS

Satisfactory clinical results (excellent to good) were achieved in 39 of the 43 patients (91%) undergoing medical treatment and in 53 of the 58 patients (91%) following antireflux surgery. The persistence of added inflammatory lesions was significantly higher in the medical treatment group. The metaplastic segment did not disappear in any case. Postoperative functional studies showed a significant decrease in the median percentage of total time with pH below 4, although 9 of the 58 patients (15%) showed pathologic rates of acid reflux. High-grade dysplasia appeared in 2 of the 43 patients (5%) in the medical treatment group and in 2 of the 58 patients (3%) in the surgical treatment group. In the latter, both patients presented with clinical and pH-metric recurrence. There was no case of malignancy after successful antireflux surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that there are no differences between the two types of treatment with respect to preventing BE from progressing to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. However, successful antireflux surgery proved to be more efficient than medical treatment in this sense, perhaps because it completely controls acid and biliopancreatic reflux to the esophagus.

Long-term results of a randomized prospective study comparing medical and surgical treatment of Barrett's esophagus

OBJECTIVE

To compare the results of medical treatment and antireflux surgery in patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE).

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

The treatment of choice in BE is still controversial. Some clinical studies suggest that surgery could be more effective than medical treatment in preventing BE from progressing to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. However, data from prospective comparative studies are necessary to answer this question.

METHODS

One hundred one patients were included in a randomized prospective study, 43 with medical treatment and 58 with antireflux surgery. All patients underwent clinical, endoscopic, and histologic assessment. Functional studies were performed in all the operated patients and in a subgroup of patients receiving medical treatment. The median follow-up was 5 years (range 1-18) in the medical treatment group and 6 years (range 1-18) in the surgical treatment group.

RESULTS

Satisfactory clinical results (excellent to good) were achieved in 39 of the 43 patients (91%) undergoing medical treatment and in 53 of the 58 patients (91%) following antireflux surgery. The persistence of added inflammatory lesions was significantly higher in the medical treatment group. The metaplastic segment did not disappear in any case. Postoperative functional studies showed a significant decrease in the median percentage of total time with pH below 4, although 9 of the 58 patients (15%) showed pathologic rates of acid reflux. High-grade dysplasia appeared in 2 of the 43 patients (5%) in the medical treatment group and in 2 of the 58 patients (3%) in the surgical treatment group. In the latter, both patients presented with clinical and pH-metric recurrence. There was no case of malignancy after successful antireflux surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that there are no differences between the two types of treatment with respect to preventing BE from progressing to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. However, successful antireflux surgery proved to be more efficient than medical treatment in this sense, perhaps because it completely controls acid and biliopancreatic reflux to the esophagus.

Long-term results of a randomized prospective study comparing medical and surgical treatment of Barrett's esophagus

OBJECTIVE

To compare the results of medical treatment and antireflux surgery in patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE).

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

The treatment of choice in BE is still controversial. Some clinical studies suggest that surgery could be more effective than medical treatment in preventing BE from progressing to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. However, data from prospective comparative studies are necessary to answer this question.

METHODS

One hundred one patients were included in a randomized prospective study, 43 with medical treatment and 58 with antireflux surgery. All patients underwent clinical, endoscopic, and histologic assessment. Functional studies were performed in all the operated patients and in a subgroup of patients receiving medical treatment. The median follow-up was 5 years (range 1-18) in the medical treatment group and 6 years (range 1-18) in the surgical treatment group.

RESULTS

Satisfactory clinical results (excellent to good) were achieved in 39 of the 43 patients (91%) undergoing medical treatment and in 53 of the 58 patients (91%) following antireflux surgery. The persistence of added inflammatory lesions was significantly higher in the medical treatment group. The metaplastic segment did not disappear in any case. Postoperative functional studies showed a significant decrease in the median percentage of total time with pH below 4, although 9 of the 58 patients (15%) showed pathologic rates of acid reflux. High-grade dysplasia appeared in 2 of the 43 patients (5%) in the medical treatment group and in 2 of the 58 patients (3%) in the surgical treatment group. In the latter, both patients presented with clinical and pH-metric recurrence. There was no case of malignancy after successful antireflux surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that there are no differences between the two types of treatment with respect to preventing BE from progressing to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. However, successful antireflux surgery proved to be more efficient than medical treatment in this sense, perhaps because it completely controls acid and biliopancreatic reflux to the esophagus.

Antireflux surgery for Barrett's oesophagus

Barrett's oesophagus is usually the result of severe reflux disease. Relief of reflux symptoms is the primary aim of treatment in patients with Barrett's oesophagus who do not have high-grade dysplasia. Some studies with medium-term (2-5 years) follow up show that antireflux surgery can provide good or excellent symptom control, with normal oesophageal acid exposure, in more than 90% of patients with Barrett's oesophagus. Antireflux surgery, but not medical therapy, can also reduce duodenal nonacid reflux to normal levels. There is no conclusive evidence that antireflux surgery can prevent the development of dysplasia or cancer, or that it can reliably induce regression of dysplasia, and patients with Barrett's oesophagus should therefore remain in a surveillance programme after operation. Some data suggest that antireflux surgery can prevent the development of intestinal metaplasia (IM) in patients with reflux disease but no IM. The combination of antireflux surgery plus an endoscopic ablation procedure is a promising treatment for patients with Barrett's oesophagus with low-grade dysplasia.

Long-term results of a randomized prospective study comparing medical and surgical treatment of Barrett's esophagus

OBJECTIVE

To compare the results of medical treatment and antireflux surgery in patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE).

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

The treatment of choice in BE is still controversial. Some clinical studies suggest that surgery could be more effective than medical treatment in preventing BE from progressing to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. However, data from prospective comparative studies are necessary to answer this question.

METHODS

One hundred one patients were included in a randomized prospective study, 43 with medical treatment and 58 with antireflux surgery. All patients underwent clinical, endoscopic, and histologic assessment. Functional studies were performed in all the operated patients and in a subgroup of patients receiving medical treatment. The median follow-up was 5 years (range 1-18) in the medical treatment group and 6 years (range 1-18) in the surgical treatment group.

RESULTS

Satisfactory clinical results (excellent to good) were achieved in 39 of the 43 patients (91%) undergoing medical treatment and in 53 of the 58 patients (91%) following antireflux surgery. The persistence of added inflammatory lesions was significantly higher in the medical treatment group. The metaplastic segment did not disappear in any case. Postoperative functional studies showed a significant decrease in the median percentage of total time with pH below 4, although 9 of the 58 patients (15%) showed pathologic rates of acid reflux. High-grade dysplasia appeared in 2 of the 43 patients (5%) in the medical treatment group and in 2 of the 58 patients (3%) in the surgical treatment group. In the latter, both patients presented with clinical and pH-metric recurrence. There was no case of malignancy after successful antireflux surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that there are no differences between the two types of treatment with respect to preventing BE from progressing to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. However, successful antireflux surgery proved to be more efficient than medical treatment in this sense, perhaps because it completely controls acid and biliopancreatic reflux to the esophagus.

Impact of antireflux operation on columnar-lined esophagus

BACKGROUND

The effect of antireflux operation on the natural history of columnar-lined esophagus (CLE) is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to assess a single center's experience and review the literature on the impact of antireflux operation on CLE without high-grade dysplasia.

STUDY DESIGN

The medical records of 26 patients with CLE but without high-grade dysplasia who underwent antireflux operation in our unit were retrospectively analyzed at longterm followup with detailed endoscopic investigation. Thirteen patients presented with intestinal metaplasia (6 had short segments, and 1 had preoperative laser ablation) and 13 without intestinal metaplasia. For the group of 13 patients presenting with intestinal metaplasia, the mean endoscopic followup was 74.7 months (median 46 months). Three of six with short-segment lesion and two of seven with circumferential involvement had complete regression of intestinal metaplasia (one after laser therapy). None had progression to dysplasia or carcinoma.

RESULTS

For the group of 13 patients without intestinal metaplasia, mean endoscopic followup was 43.9 months (median 28 months). One had complete regression of CLE, and none developed intestinal metaplasia during surveillance.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that antireflux operation can alter the natural history of CLE, allowing disease stabilization in a substantial proportion of patients. After antireflux operation, total regression of CLE is possible, but in an unpredictable manner.

Excellent quality of life after Nissen fundoplication depends on successful elimination of reflux symptoms and not the invasiveness of the surgical approach

BACKGROUND

Quality of life, poor in patients with reflux disease, improves significantly after an antireflux operation. The aim of this study was to determine the relative importance of the operative approach used for a fundoplication, as well as the successful elimination of reflux symptoms on long-term quality of life in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

METHODS

A questionnaire, including the medical outcome study short-form health survey (SF-36), was completed by 105 patients who had undergone either a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (n = 72) or a transthoracic Nissen fundoplication (n = 33); median follow-up was 25 and 31 months, respectively. Patients were classified as completely or incompletely relieved of reflux symptoms based on the frequency of reflux symptoms and the use of acid-suppression medication.

RESULTS

Patients selected for transthoracic Nissen fundoplication had significantly worse preoperative gastroesophageal reflux disease based on the presence of a large hiatal hernia, Barrett's esophagus, or stricture. Long-term quality of life was similar for the two approaches, but was significantly decreased in patients with recurrent reflux symptoms. Compared with laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication patients, transthoracic Nissen fundoplication patients were less likely to use acid-suppression medication and tended to be more satisfied with their operation.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term quality of life was independent of the invasiveness of the procedure, but significantly dependent on successful elimination of reflux symptoms and the necessity for acid suppression medication. Patients who underwent a transthoracic Nissen fundoplication, despite having more advanced disease preoperatively, tended to have less reflux symptoms and less long-term acid-suppression medication usage after their procedure. These findings support the continued use of a transthoracic antireflux procedure in patients with advanced gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Endoscopic therapeutic esophageal interventions

In Western countries, many esophageal diseases result from uncontrolled gastroesophageal reflux. Treatments for Barrett esophagus, peptic strictures, and esophageal adenocarcinoma still account for a large portion of the esophageal interventions performed by therapeutic endoscopists. In addition to continued refinements in the treatment of these sequelae, new endoscopic therapies have emerged to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease itself. This article reviews the available literature on new endoscopic antireflux procedures along with other advances that give the endoscopist unprecedented options in the treatment of esophageal diseases.

Barrett esophagus

A number of publications have provided valuable insight into and data on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, risk factor evaluation, and treatment of patients with Barrett esophagus. Although the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has rapidly increased over the past two decades, it is not clear whether there has been a parallel increase in the frequency of Barrett esophagus. The issue of surveillance endoscopy in patients with Barrett esophagus remains controversial; prospective data are still lacking. Bile reflux plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Barrett esophagus; however, this usually occurs in the presence of acid. Newer technology and techniques, including chromoendoscopy, magnification endoscopy, optical coherence tomography, and spectroscopy, have opened the field by providing a more accurate and "nonbiopsy" diagnosis of intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia. The field of biomarkers remains continues to expand and is providing insight into risk stratification of patients with Barrett esophagus. The exact role of acid suppression in patients with this premalignant disease remains controversial, and endoscopic therapies appear promising.

Barrett's Esophagus, a Complication of GERD

The treatment of patients with Barrett's esophagus is similar to that of any patient with underlying gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The treatment of reflux includes medical and surgical therapy. A key component of medical therapy is the use of a proton pump inhibitor to treat the underlying GERD. The major controversy is whether the end point of therapy should be the control of reflux symptoms or the control of esophageal pH. When controlling reflux symptoms with proton pump inhibitor therapy, it is important to eliminate all of the symptoms of reflux. An alternative to medical therapy is surgical fundoplication, which is currently performed laparoscopically. Fundoplication may be indicated when a patient has persistent regurgitation even while on proton pump inhibitor therapy. An individual patient also may choose fundoplication, preferring surgical intervention to taking medication long term on a daily basis. Patients with Barrett's esophagus also have the risk of the developing of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Therefore, there is an additional goal in the therapy for individuals with Barrett's to prevent progression to adenocarcinoma. The standard approach to the issue of the premalignant nature of Barrett's esophagus is surveillance endoscopy with biopsy in order to detect dysplasia, a cytologic and architectural histologic change. Dysplasia is the first step in the neoplastic process, an early stage offering the opportunity of intervention and longer-term survival.

Minimally invasive surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease

Surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is indicated for patients with moderate to severe signs and symptoms or a need for increasing doses of antisecretory drugs. Long segment Barrett's metaplasia is another indication, especially in young patients. Preoperative evaluation differs somewhat depending on whether the patient's symptoms are typical or atypical of GERD. Laparoscopic fundoplication is described. Follow-up of as long as 8 years indicates that more than 90% of patients are satisfied with the results, although 14% are using antisecretory drugs regularly. Recurrent symptoms or dysphagia may indicate surgical failure, and medical therapy, esophageal dilatation, or surgery may be appropriate. Laparoscopic surgery in these patients takes longer than the original procedure but has many benefits if performed by an experienced surgeon.