Long-term (18 Years) Results of Patients With Long-segment Barrett Esophagus Submitted to Acid Suppression-duodenal Diversion Operation: Better Than Nissen Fundoplication?

ENDOSCOPIC ABLATION COMBINED WITH FUNDOPLICATION PLUS ACID SUPPRESSION-DUODENAL DIVERSION PROCEDURE FOR LONG SEGMENT BARRETT´S ESOPHAGUS: EARLY AND LONG-TERM OUTCOME

BACKGROUND:

The addition of endoscopic ablative therapy plus proton pump inhibitors or fundoplication is postulated for the treatment of patients with long-segment Barrett´s esophagus (LSBE); however, it does not avoid acid and bile reflux in these patients. Fundoplication with distal gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy is proposed as an acid suppression-duodenal diversion procedure demonstrating excellent results at long-term follow-up. There are no reports on therapeutic strategy with this combination.

AIMS:

To determine the early and long-term results observed in LSBE patients with or without low-grade dysplasia who underwent the acid suppression-duodenal diversion procedure combined with endoscopic therapy.

METHODS:

Prospective study including patients with endoscopic LSBE using the Prague classification for circumferential and maximal lengths and confirmed by histological study. Patients were submitted to argon plasma coagulation (21) or radiofrequency ablation (31). After receiving treatment, they were monitored at early and late follow-up (5–12 years) with endoscopic and histologic evaluation.

RESULTS:

Few complications (ulcers or strictures) were observed after the procedure. Re-treatment was required in both groups of patients. The reduction in length of metaplastic epithelium was significantly better after radiofrequency ablation compared to argon plasma coagulation (10.95 vs 21.15 mms for circumferential length; and 30.96 vs 44.41 mms for maximal length). Intestinal metaplasia disappeared in a high percentage of patients, and histological long-term results were quite similar in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

Endoscopic procedures combined with fundoplication plus acid suppression with duodenal diversion technique to eliminate metaplastic epithelium of distal esophagus could be considered a good alternative option for LSBE treatment.

Clinical Endoscopic and Histologic Findings of a Long-Term Follow-Up (10.7 Years) After Roux-en-Y Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass: a Prospective Study

INTRODUCTION

Bariatric surgery, with laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LYGB), is one of the most effective treatments for long-term weight loss. However, there are few publications concerning endoscopic evaluations at late control. The purpose was to evaluate the macroscopic and histological findings at the distal esophagus, gastric pouch, jejunal limb and the evolution of Barrett's esophagus (BE) in the long term.

METHODS

Cohort of 110 patients with obesity underwent LYGB in a university hospital. Several clinical, endoscopic and histological evaluations were performed after surgery. Exclusion criteria were previous bariatric procedure, hiatal hernia > 4 cm, BE with histological dysplasia and body mass index (BMI) > 50 kg/m².

RESULTS

Average age was 38.7 ± 9 years with 70% females. BMI averaged 39.6 ± 6 kg/m². Follow-up was 10.7 ± 2 years, and 18 patients (16.4%) were lost. The total weight loss was 23.4 ± 7 kg. Erosive esophagitis, present in 33% of patients, decreased to 5%. After surgery, intestinal metaplasia regressed to cardial mucosa in 5 of 8 patients. One patient developed a short-segment BE. The level of control to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptom control was 87% to responders (Visick I-II) and 13% to non-responders (Visick III-IV). An increase in dilated cardia type III was observed (p < 0.001). The length of the gastric pouch increased significantly after surgery (p < 0.001). Anastomotic ulcers healed at 6 months with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use, without recurrence.

CONCLUSION

LYGB is a very effective surgical procedure to control symptoms of GERD and/or endoscopic erosive esophagitis. Besides, regression of Barrett's mucosa to carditis occurred in 62%.