[Does Barrett esophagus regress after total duodenal diversion?]

The outcome of Barrett's esophagus was evaluated in 21 patients who prospectively underwent total duodenal diversion and followed from 13 to 86 months. The total duodenal diversion procedure included troncular vagotomy, antrectomy and Roux-en-Y reconstruction incorporating a 70 cm loop. The diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus was made on endoscopy when a circular zone of columnar epithelium more than 3 cm long was found and was always corroborated by biopsies. All patients had esophagitis on endoscopy or acid reflux on pH-monitoring. During follow-up, for all cases, no esophagitis and no bile were detected in the stomach by successive endoscopies; none of the 16 pH-studies showed any aggressive reflux. The length of Barrett's esophagus was measured before and after Roux-en-Y duodenal diversion. In spite of the suppression of gastroesophageal reflux, regression of Barrett's esophagus was observed in one case only beginning 24 months after the diversion. No cases of adenocarcinoma or dysplasia were detected. In conclusion, regression of Barrett's esophagus is exceptional even after duodenal diversion.