title: Barretts's esophagus: does an antireflux procedure reduce the need for endoscopic surveillance?
abstract: Barrett's esophagus, a premalignant condition associated with chronic gastroesophageal reflux, carries an approximate 40-fold increase in the incidence of adenocarcinoma. Between 1975 and 1994, 113 patients with Barrett's esophagus underwent antireflux procedures at the Mayo Clinic. The antireflux procedure was performed more than 3 months after the diagnosis of Barrett's disease in 39 patients (34.5%) and during the initial preoperative evaluation in 74 (65.5%). Uncut Collis-Nissen fundoplication was performed in 69 patients (61.1%), Nissen fundoplication was performed in 16 (14.2%), cut Collis-Nissen fundoplication was performed in 12 (10.6%), Belsey repair was performed in nine (8.0%), Collis-Belsey repair was performed in six (5.3%), and Nissen fundoplication with an anterior gastropexy was performed in one (0.9%). There was one operative death (0.9% mortality). Morbidity occurred in 41 patients (36.3%), including cardiac arrhythmia in eight (7.0%), pneumonia in six (5.3%), empyema in five (4.4%), hemorrhage in four (3.6%), myocardial infarction in two (1.8%), and wound dehiscence, wound infection, perforated duodenal ulcer, and postoperative leak in one each (0.9%). Median follow-up for the 112 survivors of operation was 6.5 years (range 4 months to 18.2 years). Excellent or good alleviation of symptoms was obtained in 92 patients (82.2%). Ninety-nine patients (88.4%) are currently alive and 13 (11.6%) have died. Three patients (2.7%) subsequently had adenocarcinoma of the esophagus after the antireflux procedure at 13, 25, and 39 months; two of these died of cancer. The incidence of esophageal carcinoma in this select group of patients was one in 273.8 patient-years of follow-up. We conclude that although antireflux procedures in patients with Barrett's esophagus result in long-term control of reflux symptoms, the possibility of esophageal cancer still exists. Endoscopic surveillance should therefore be recommended.
authors.affiliation: Section of General Thoracic Surgery, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minn, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: V F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Trastek
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deschamps
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Pairolero
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Pairolero
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000379:methods*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate