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Studies have investigated the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Barrett’s esophagus (BE) after common bariatric surgeries. However, many of these studies have bias or limitations. Therefore, it is crucial to determine the true incidence of GERD in long-term follow-ups (FUs) post-surgery.
The aim of this study was to review and summarize long-term data regarding the incidence of post-surgical GERD and BE after various bariatric procedures, discuss the characteristics of current information available, and establish the need for future studies to determine objective functional outcomes that have not yet been reported.
A narrative review was conducted using multiple electronic databases, including the review of 15 meta-analyses and over 200 articles.
The quality of studies analyzing GERD and BE following bariatric surgery varies widely. Some papers provide detailed outcomes, while others offer limited information. The reported rate of de novo postoperative GERD development after sleeve gastrectomy varies from 4.06 to 74.7% (mean=33.8±19.1), and the incidence of BE ranges from 0.2 to 27% (mean=8.2±7.5). After Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), similar variability is observed, with BE incidence ranging from 1.6 to 17.5% (mean=7.5±5.9). In the case of one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB), scarce information is available and most reports are incomplete. The incidence of erosive esophagitis ranges from 15 to 70%, with BE incidence reported in only two papers (1–9.5%). For procedures such as single-anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S), fundoplication-sleeve, or sleeve bipartition, few specific data are available, with most reports limited to symptoms and lacking findings such as esophagitis, hiatal hernia, or BE.
This revision provides evidence that SG may indeed lead to an increased risk of BE. Numerous studies suggest that RYGB protects against BE. Other bariatric procedures must be extensively evaluated. Relatively low quality of available literature on this topic was observed; therefore, well-controlled prospective studies with long-term FUs are necessary to fully understand the effect of bariatric surgery on BE.
Identification of epidemiological risk factors in Barrett esophagus resulting in dysplasia and adenocarcinoma and its impact on prevention and early detection.
To evaluate epidemiological risk factors involved in the development of dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma from Barrett esophagus in a specific population. To critically analyze the surveillance period, aiming to individualize follow-up time according to identified risks.
A retrospective case-control study was carried out at a tertiary center involving patients diagnosed and followed up for Barrett esophagus. Patients who developed esophageal adenocarcinoma and/or dysplasia were compared to those who did not, considering variables such as gender, age, smoking status, body mass index, ethnicity, and Barrett esophagus extension. Logistic regression was performed to measure the odds ratio for risk factors associated with the outcome of adenocarcinoma and dysplasia. The presence of epidemiological risk factors in this population was correlated with the time taken to develop esophageal adenocarcinoma from metaplasia.
A statistically significant difference was observed in smoking status, race, gender, Barrett esophagus extension, and age between the group with esophageal adenocarcinoma and the group without it. Smokers and former smokers had a 4.309 times higher risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma, and each additional centimeter of Barrett esophagus increased the risk by 1.193 times. In the dysplasia group, smoking status, Barrett esophagus extension, and age were statistically significant factors; each additional centimeter of Barrett esophagus extension increased the risk of dysplasia by 1.128 times, and each additional year of age increased the risk by 1.023 times. Patients without risk factors did not develop esophageal adenocarcinoma within 12 months, even with prior dysplasia.
The study confirmed a higher risk of developing dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma in specific epidemiological groups, allowing for more cost-effective monitorization for patients with Barrett esophagus.
Despite endoscopic eradication therapy being an effective and durable treatment for Barrett’s esophagus-related neoplasia, even after achieving initial successful eradication, these patients remain at risk of recurrence and require ongoing routine examinations. Failure of radiofrequency ablation and argon plasma coagulation is reported in 10–20% of cases.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Barrett's esophagus is an acquired condition that predisposes to the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma.
The aim of this study was to establish an association between the endoscopic and the histopathological findings regarding differently sized endoscopic columnar epithelial mucosa projections in the low esophagus, under 3.0 cm in the longitudinal extent.
This is a prospective study, including 1262 patients who were submitted to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in the period from July 2015 to June 2017. The suspicious projections were measured and subdivided into three groups according to the sizes encountered (Group I: <0.99 cm; Group II: 1.0–1.99 cm; and Group III: 2.0–2.99 cm), and biopsies were then performed.
There was a general prevalence of suspicious lesions of 6.42% and of confirmed Barrett's lesions of 1.17%, without a general significant statistical difference among groups. However, from Groups I and II to Group III, the differences were significant, showing that the greater the lesion, the higher the probability of Barrett's esophagus diagnosis. The absolute number of Barrett's lesions was 7, 9, and 6 for Groups I, II, and III, respectively.
The findings led to the conclusion that even projections under 3.0 cm present a similar possibility of evolution to Barrett's esophagus. If, on the one hand, short segments are more prevalent, on the other hand, the long segments have the higher probability of Barrett's esophagus diagnosis, which is why biopsies are required in all suspicious segments.
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