Surgical Treatment of Barrett’s Esophagus: 1980-2003

Barrett’s esophagus is a complication of long-standing gastroesophageal reflux and can be a premalignant condition. The goals of surgical treatment, which were well summarized by DeMeester, have been increased and more detailed by us. They consist of (1) controlling symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease; (2) abolishing acid and duodenal reflux into the esophagus; (3) preventing or eliminating the development of complications; (4) preventing extension of or an increase in the length of intestinal metaplasia; (5) inducing regression of intestinal metaplasia to the cardiac mucosa; and (6) preventing progression to dysplasia, thereby inducing regression of low-grade dysplasia and avoiding the appearance of an adenocarcinoma. We have reviewed 25 articles in the English-language literature published from 1980 to 2003 dealing specifically with the surgical treatment of Barrett’s esophagus. In most of these papers too few patients were included, the follow-up was less than 60 months, and the clinical success deteriorated with time. Acid reflux persists after surgery in nearly 35% of Barrett’s esophagus patients; and at 10 years after surgery duodenal reflux is present in 95%. Peptic ulcer, stricture, and erosive esophagitis are present in 15% to 30% late after surgery, and in 16% there is progression of the intestinal metaplasia. There is the appearance of low-grade dysplasia in 6.0% and adenocarcinoma in 3.4%, and there is regression of low-grade dysplasia in 45.0%. These results challenge the arguments supporting antireflux surgery for patients with Barrett’s esophagus: The clinical results are not optimal, no long-lasting effect has been demonstrated, and it does not prevent the appearance of dysplasia or adenocarcinoma. An excellent alternative is acid suppression and a duodenal diversion procedure, which has had 91% clinical success for more than 5 years. This regimen has almost eliminated acid and duodenal reflux, and there has been no progression to dysplasia or adenocarcinoma. Moreover, in 60% of the patients with low-grade dysplasia, regression to nondysplastic mucosa has occurred.