[Current surveillance policy for Barrett's oesophagus in the Netherlands].
OBJECTIVE
To gain more insight into current surveillance and treatment of patients with Barrett's oesophagus with the aim of developing new guidelines.


METHODS
Questionnaire.


METHODS
In 2004, a questionnaire was sent to 337 physician-endoscopists who were all registered with the Netherlands Society of Gastroenterology. The questionnaire inventoried various aspects of surveillance and treatment of patients with Barrett's oesophagus.


RESULTS
Of the 289 respondents (86%), 96% carried out surveillance or had it carried out, on at least a proportion of their patients with Barrett's oesophagus. A total of 258 respondents (89%) carried out the surveillance themselves. An endoscopic indication of the presence of Barrett's oesophagus was, for 31% of the respondents, enough reason to carry out surveillance of this condition irrespective of the results of pathological investigations. 75% applied an age limit for surveillance for Barrett's. The median age limit is 75 years (interquartile distance: 70-75) and 46% of the treating professionals limited themselves to patients who, on the basis of age and co-morbidity, may undergo oesophageal resection. The choice of treatment in early neoplasia, surgical or endoscopic, depends not only on the histological diagnosis, but also on the age and the co-morbidities of the patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Surveillance of Barrett's oesophagus is widespread in the Netherlands, and in general is carried out in accordance with international guidelines. The possibilities of treating patients with high-grade dysplasia or intramucosal carcinoma of the oesophagus endoscopically, and of consulting external advisory bodies are still insufficiently utilized.
Curvers
W L
WL
Academisch Medisch Centrum/Universiteit van Amsterdam, afd. Maag-, Darm- en Leverziekten, Meibergdreef9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam.
Festen
H P
HP
Hameeteman
W
W
Meijer
G A
GA
Peters
F T M
FT
siersema
P D
PD
Tilanus
H W
HW
Bergman
J J G H M
JJ
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires