ABSTRACT

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.