OBJECTIVE To determine whether patients with Barrett esophagus who undergo antireflux surgery differ from medically treated patients in incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma and probability of disease regression/progression. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Barrett esophagus is a risk factor for the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. A question exists as to whether antireflux surgery reduces t...

In view of surgery, GERD is the failure of the antireflux barrier, allowing abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. It is a mechanical disorder, which is caused by a defective lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a gastric emptying disorder, or failed esophageal peristalsis. These abnormalities result in a spectrum of disease ranging from symptoms only, such as "heartburn", to esop...

Traditional endoscopic treatment of achalasia consists of endoscopic balloon dilatation with the inconvenience of the recurrence of symptoms and the necessity of repeated sessions. Surgical laparoscopic procedure has been advocated to be more efficient especially in young patients because it sections the lower oesophageal sphincter via a transabdominal approach. The long term most severe compli...

Review of published work and analysis of clinical data and pathology of four biopsy specimens from two patients with laryngeal contact granuloma showed that its peptic origin was derived from a gastro-oesophago-laryngeal reflux. It is proposed that the term "peptic granuloma" should be given to this phenomenon. This term is given further support on account of the spectacular recovery of the lar...

There is no single best evidence-based approach to the diagnostic evaluation of night sweats, given the limited number of studies on the subject. A detailed history, however, does appear to be the most important initial diagnostic tool (strength of recommendation [sor]: C, based on usual practice and clinical opinion). No clinical trials have directly studied symptomatic relief of night sweats ...

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 gastroe...