Treatment policy for children with gastroesophageal reflux complicated by Barrett esophagus

Barret's esophagus (BE) is a rare disease in children. It is caused by gastroesophageal reflux (GER). From 1996 to 1999 seventy-eighth children with GER were treated. Twenty-four-hour pH-metry and manometry of the esophagus, scintigraphy and contrast roentgenoscopy of the esophagus were used for diagnosis of GER. All the children underwent biopsy of mucosa membrane of distal esophagus. Morphologic examinations revealed BE in 16 (20.5%) children. Metaplasia of esophageal epithelium by intestinal type (IT) in combination with one by gastric type (GT) were revealed in 8 children, metaplasia by gastric type alone (epithelium of gastric and fundal parts of the stomach)--in 8 children. Six children with IT metaplasia of the esophagus with long strictures underwent extirpation of the esophagus with one-stage esophagoplasty. It esophageal stenosis is not long or is absent, fundoplication by Nissen (4 children) and drug therapy (6 children) are performed. It is concluded that in IT metaplasia of the esophagus with long peptic esophageal strictures resistant to bouginage extirpation of the esophagus with one-stage coloesophagoplasty is desirable. Other methods of treatment do not exclude probability of esophageal adenocarcinoma. These children should be followed up with esophageal biopsy each 6-12 months.     

Laparoscopic antireflux surgery in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux in patients with Barrett esophagus

BACKGROUND: Patients with gastroesophageal reflux and Barrett esophagus may represent a group of patients with poorer postoperative outcomes. It has been suggested that such patients should undergo open rather than laparoscopic antireflux surgery. HYPOTHESIS: The laparoscopic approach to antireflux surgery is appropriate treatment for patients with Barrett esophagus who have symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease. METHODS: The outcome of 757 patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease from January 1, 1992, through December 31, 1998, was prospectively examined. Barrett esophagus was present in 81 (10.7%) of these patients (58 men and 23 women). The outcome for this group of patients was compared with that of patients undergoing surgery who did not have Barrett esophagus. RESULTS: The types of operation performed were similar for the 2 patient groups. The mean +/- SD length of columnar mucosa was 47.4 +/- 43.6 mm. The average +/- SD operation time was 79.0 +/- 33.4 minutes. Conversion to open surgery occurred in 6 patients. Postoperative outcomes were as follows. Esophageal manometry and 24-hour pH studies before and after laparoscopic fundoplication demonstrated a significant increase in lower esophageal sphincter resting and residual relaxation pressures and a significant decrease in distal esophageal acid exposure. Four patients have developed high-grade dysplasia or invasive cancer within 4 years of their antireflux surgery, and all of these have subsequently undergone esophageal resection. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of laparoscopic antireflux surgery is similar for patients with Barrett esophagus compared with other patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. This suggests that laparoscopic surgery is appropriate treatment for this patient group.     

Predictive factors of Barrett esophagus: multivariate analysis of 502 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

HYPOTHESIS: Risk factors for the presence and extent of Barrett esophagus (BE) can be identified in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). DESIGN: Case-comparison study. SETTING: University tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Five hundred two consecutive patients with GERD documented by 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and with complete demographic, endoscopic, and physiological evaluation, divided in groups according to the presence and extent of BE (328 patients without BE and 174 with BE [67 short-segment BE and 107 long-segment BE]). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical, endoscopic, and physiological data, studied by multivariate analysis, to identify the independent predictors of the presence and extent of BE. RESULTS: Seven factors were identified as predictors of BE. They were abnormal bile reflux (odds ratio [OR], 4.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9-9.7), hiatal hernia larger than 4 cm (OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 2.1-8.0), a defective lower esophageal sphincter (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.4-5.4), male sex (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.6-4.3), defective distal esophageal contraction (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4-3.5), abnormal number of reflux episodes lasting longer than 5 minutes (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.1-4.6), and GERD symptoms lasting for more than 5 years (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.4-3.2). Only abnormal bile reflux (OR, 4.8; 95% CI, 1.7-13.2) was identified as a predictor of short-segment BE (baseline, no BE). Three factors were identified as predictors of long-segment BE (baseline short-segment BE). They were hiatal hernia larger than 4 cm (OR, 17.8; 95% CI, 4.1-76.6), a defective lower esophageal sphincter (OR, 16.9; 95% CI, 1.6-181.4), and an abnormal longest reflux episode (OR, 8.1; 95% CI, 2.8-24.0). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with GERD, specific factors are associated with the presence and extent of BE. Elimination of reflux with an antireflux operation in patients with 1 or more of these factors may prevent the future development of BE.     

Surgical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease/Barrett's esophagus

Gastroesophageal reflux disease and its complications, such as Barrett's esophagus, are major health problems. In this review, we highlight the critical components of the disease process and surgical considerations relevant to laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery.     

Gastroesophageal reflux disease and mucosal injury with emphasis on short-segment Barrett’s esophagus and duodenogastroesophageal reflux

Gastroeosphageal reflux disease has been associated with long segments of Barrett’s esophagus (≥3 cm), but little is known about its association with shorter segments. The aim of this study was to evaluate anatomic and physiologic alterations of the cardia and esophageal exposure to gastric and duodenal juice in patients with short and long segments of Barrett’s esophagus. Furthermore, these patients were compared to each other and to patients with erosive esophagitis and those with no mucosal injury. Two hundred sixty-two consecutive patients with foregut symptoms were divided into the following four groups based on endoscopic and histologic findings: group 1, no mucosal injury; group 2, erosive esophagitis; group 3, short-segment Barrett’s esophagus; and group 4, long-segment Barrett’s esophagus. Esophageal exposure time to acid and bilirubin, lower esophageal sphincter characteristics, and endoscopie anatomy of the cardia were compared between the groups. Patients with short-segment Barrett’s esophagus had elevated esophageal acid and bilirubin exposure, decreased lower esophageal sphincter pressure and length, and a high incidence of hiatal hernia. These abnormalities were similar to those in patients with esophagitis and in general less profound than those found in patients with long-segment Barrett’s esophagus. The length of intestinal metaplasia was higher in patients with a defective lower esophageal sphincter. Short-segment Barrett’s esophagus is a complication of severe gastroesophageal reflux disease and is associated with the reflux of both gastric and duodenal juice similar to that seen in patients with long-segment Barrett’s esophagus. Presented at the Thirty-Eighth Annual Meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Washington, D.C., May 11–14,1997.     

Diagnosis and treatment of hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux

From 1962 to 1988, 17 patients with esophageal hiatal hernia with or without gastroesophageal reflux were treated. Among these, 14 patients received various types of gastroesophageal junction reconstructive procedures. Experience demonstrated that the clinical studies including gastroesophagography, endoscopy and intraluminal pressure patterns of esophagus are important diagnostic measures. It also seems, to us that intraluminal esophageal pressure monitoring during surgical operation is particularly useful in determining the adequacy of gastroesophageal reconstruction and may provide a dynamic evaluation of function of the gastroesophageal junction area. Some aspects of diagnosis and surgical treatment are discussed in detail.     

Diagnosis and surgical treatment of secondary gastroesophageal reflux disease

Examination and treatment was performed in 69 patients with secondary gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), 61 (88.4%) of whom were primarily operated on for achalasia of cardia and GERD. The choice of the operation method was based on complex examination of the patients. Due to conduction of preoperative preparation it was possible to perform the most physiological antireflux fundoplication operations in the patients.     

Diagnosis and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux in children]

The work is based on an analysis of results of treatment of 643 children with gastroesophageal reflux (operations were performed on 69 of them). Methods of anesthesia are described. Conservative treatment was used in correlation with the degree of reflux-esophagitis. Indications to operations were considered to be as follows: hiatal hernias, reflux-esophagitis in children with cerebral paralysis, failure of conservative treatment in the group of children having no anatomical causes of the reflux. A method of surgical treatment is proposed including a combination of fundoplication with the posterior gastropexy and fixation of the esophagus to the diaphragm at a distance of 3 cm from the gastric cuff (43 cases, no recurrences). In patients with a combination of gastroesophageal reflux with the esophagus stenosis resection of the altered portion was made followed by plasty with a colonic transplant or local tissues (10 patients with the diagnosed Barrett esophagus).     

Diagnosis and surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux in children

Results of observations examination and treatment of 115 children with gastroesophageal reflux aged from 3 days to 14 years are described. Great importance of special methods of examination was shown. Results of using the roentgenological method, fibroesophagogastroscopy with biopsy of the esophagus, manometry and electromyography of the esophagus are presented. Specific features and results of the surgical treatment of the disease are described.     

Length of the esophagus in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett's esophagus compared to controls

BACKGROUND: It is a current opinion among surgeons that the esophagus is shorter in patients with reflux disease and particularly in those with complicated Barrett's esophagus. However, objective evidence of this is scarce. Therefore we attempted to determine the occurrence and magnitude of this phenomenon among our patients. METHODS: One hundred ninety control subjects, 77 patients with severe erosive esophagitis, 74 with Barrett's esophagus, and 29 with complicated Barrett's esophagus (ulcer, stenosis) were grouped according to height. The length of the esophagus was determined by standard manometric study, measuring the distance from the crycopharingeal sphincter to the distal limit of the lower esophageal sphincter. Values were expressed in cm as the mean +/- SD. RESULTS: The esophageal length according to height was 1 to 2 cm shorter in patients compared to controls, but these differences were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: No differences were found between patients with progressive severity of the disease. This study confirms that the presence of a so-called "short esophagus" does not exist or is not relevant in our patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, including those with complicated Barrett's esophagus.     

Relationship of gastroesophageal reflux disease with adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus and cardia

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) increases the risk of developing adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus and cardia. In order to further define this risk, we studied the relationship of GERD in patients with or without gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas. METHODS: The records of all patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus and cardia treated between 1991 and 1999 were reviewed for the following data: gender, age of diagnosis, presence of GERD, presence of GERD for >4 years, and GERD treatment. A control group of patients without gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma were matched for age and gender. Data obtained from the control group included presence of GERD and treatment for GERD. RESULTS: 60 patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus and cardia were identified. 40% of cancer patients had GERD at the time of diagnosis, (odds ratio 39, p < 0.0001). 27% of cancer patients had GERD for >4 years (odds ratio 21, p < 0.0001). 50% of cancer patients with GERD were being treated with either H(2)-blockers or proton pump inhibitors at the time of cancer diagnosis, with an average duration of treatment of 17 months, compared to none of the patients without GERD (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma had a higher prevalence of GERD-like symptoms compared to age- and gender-matched controls. This supports an association between GERD and gastroesophageal junction cancers. In addition, cancer patients with GERD may be treated for prolonged periods of time with acid-suppression medication prior to the diagnosis of cancer, masking the symptoms of cancer. Patients with long-standing GERD or older patients with new onset GERD may need endoscopy or imaging studies to evaluate for cancer of the distal esophagus or cardia.     

The relationship between gastroesophageal reflux, intestinal metaplasia and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus

Currently available data indicate a clear and probably causal relationship between long-lasting gastroesophageal reflux disease, the development of long segments with specialized intestinal metaplasia in the distal esophagus and subsequent progression to adenocarcinoma. To a lesser degree, this also appears to be the case for short segments of specialized intestinal metaplasia in the distal esophagus. In contrast, epidemiological data and classic parameters for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease do not currently support a causal role of gastroesophageal reflux in the pathogenesis of specialized intestinal metaplasia at the gastric cardia. Despite its high prevalence and malignant potential, many questions about the prevention and management of intestinal metaplasia in the distal esophagus remain unsolved. In patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux, current modes of medical therapy do not appear to prevent the development of intestinal metaplasia, while effective anti-reflux surgery seems to have a protective effect. Formal studies with adequate follow-up are, however, still lacking. Neither acid-suppression therapy nor anti-reflux surgery, with or without mucosal ablation, can reliably prevent the malignant degeneration of established intestinal metaplasia of the esophagus. Close endoscopic surveillance with extensive biopsies, therefore, remains mandatory in such patients, irrespective of the treatment modality.     

Epidemiology and pathophysiology of Barrett esophagus

The pathophysiology of Barrett's esophagus appears to be a sequential process; the squamous epithelium of the esophagus is replaced by multipotent undifferentiated cells; secondary to cellular damage in the course of gastroesophageal reflux disease these undifferentiated cells further differentiate under the ongoing influence of mucosal damage, thus forming the typical morphology of Barrett mucosa. While the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease amounts to 10% to 30%, the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus is estimated to be 1% in the general population. The epidemiologic data of Barrett's esophagus gain special attention with regard to the fact that the specialized columnar epithelium with intestinal metaplasia represents the only recognized risk factor for the development of adenocarcinoma in the esophagus. Currently it is estimated that the risk of the development of an adenocarcinoma on the basis of Barrett's esophagus is about 30-50 fold higher than that in the general population.     

Diagnosis and surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease with motor disorders

There were performed examination and surgical treatment of 93 patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and motor disorders of gastroesophageal junction, esophageal and gastric bodies. In 49 (52.7%) of patients the total fundoplication was done, in 44 (47.3%)--incomplete one. After the operation all the patients had survived. In 5 years and more there were examined 71 (76.3%) of patients, in all of them good and fair results were obtained.