Reflux, Barrett’s Esophagus, and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma After Bariatric Surgery

We present the case of a patient who developed esophageal adenocarcinoma after a previous laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Bariatric surgery has emerged as the most effective treatment option for weight loss and obesity-related diseases; however, sleeve gastrectomy promotes gastroesophageal reflux and leads to Barrett’s esophagus in a substantial portion of patients. The natural history of Barrett’s esophagus in these patients is unknown, and active surveillance is recommended until the incidence of dysplasia and adenocarcinoma in this population is clarified. Management options for these patients include conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Although esophagectomy in patients who have previously undergone sleeve gastrectomy may require an alternative conduit, the remnant stomach can be used in carefully selected patients. Here, we review the different weight loss procedures, their effect on gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett’s esophagus, and the treatment options for patients with esophageal cancer after sleeve gastrectomy. We report the use of preoperative coil embolization as a means of vascular preconditioning before successful use of a gastric conduit.

Foregut Issues After Bariatric Surgery

Weight loss surgery has overall been shown to be very safe and effective. However, long-term outcomes data has allowed codification of post-operative complications specific to the type of weight loss surgery performed. This review focuses specifically on foregut-related postoperative complications after weight loss surgery, most of which are not discussed on a broad scale in the literature yet whose prevalence continues to rise. Clinicians should maintain a broad differential when treating patients with complications after bariatric surgery in order to perform a thorough and precise workup to identify the diagnosis and guide management.

Effects of Obesity Surgery on GERD and Esophageal Motility

With the rising prevalence of obesity, bariatric surgery has become an increasingly popular treatment option. However, bariatric surgery can contribute to esophageal dysmotility and lead to worsening or development of GERD, two conditions that are already frequently seen in the obese population. We review the effects of the various types of bariatric surgeries on the esophagus, specifically focusing on sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

Management of GERD in Patients With Obesity

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects an estimated 20% of the population in the Unites States. Lifestyle modifications and proton pump inhibitor therapy are effective for majority of patients, however, some patients cannot tolerate this treatment or find it ineffective requiring endoscopic or surgical management. Obese patients with GERD who pursue surgical management are at increased risk of developing recurrence of symptoms after laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery. Roux en Y gastric bypass remains the surgical procedure of choice for obese patients with GERD. Endoluminal weight loss interventions seek to offer minimally invasive options for obesity management, however, their efficacy for GERD management in patients with obesity remains to be determined.

Endoscopic Removal of an Eroded LINX® Device Using a Mechanical Biliary Lithotriptor

Background: Magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) via the surgical placement of a LINX® device (LINX® Reflux Management System, Torax Medical, Shoreview, MN, USA) is an increasingly performed minimally invasive outpatient anti-reflux procedure with a low erosion rate. The most common initial approach to eroded LINX® devices is endoscopic removal. Often endoscopy centers do not have specialized devices to cut through the newer, more durable LINX® systems. In this paper we describe a unique approach for removal of a LINX® with intraluminal erosion using a commonly stocked mechanical biliary lithotripsy device. Case description: A 63-year-old male with a history of GERD and symptomatic type III paraesophageal hernia (PEH) underwent a robotic PEH repair with magnetic sphincter augmentation (1.5T, 17 bead) at an outside hospital. He developed an acute recurrence of his PEH, and subsequent upper endoscopy and contrast esophagram four weeks postoperatively revealed a gastric erosion of the LINX device, which had migrated 6 cm onto the stomach. Attempted endoscopic LINX® removal using the OVESCO remove DC Cutter device was unsuccessful. Using principles of prior endoscopic bariatric lap band foreign body removal, the entire LINX® device was successfully removed with the described biliary lithotriptor technique. Conclusion: Using a common biliary mechanical lithotriptor device and a guidewire to transect the newer 1.5T LINX® Reflux Management System is a safe, effective and familiar technique for endoscopic removal of an eroded MSA device.

Spastic Motility Disorders: Diagnosis and Management in the Era of the Chicago Classification

Spastic esophageal motility disorders are represented, as per the Chicago classification 4.0, by diffuse esophageal spasm and hypercontractile esophagus. They are very rare and therefore poorly understood. The diagnosis is usually made by manometry in presence of dysphagia or chest pain, but often it is often an unexpected finding. In this paper, the authors review the current knowledge and possible treatments of these disorders, when needed. They underline that invasive treatments, as surgical myotomy or POEM, are rarely necessary and that the indications for them are based on low quality studies. Therefore, they should be used with extreme caution in treating spastic motility disorders other than achalasia.

The Value of High-Resolution Manometry in Measurement of EGJ Competency and Manometric Outcomes of Antireflux Surgery

The esophagogastric junction (EGJ) barrier plays an integral role in the prevention of gastroesophageal reflux; however, not much attention has been paid to competency parameters, especially in the era of high-resolution manometry (HRM). HRM provides a unique spatiotemporal pressure profile and measurements of the EGJ. Herein, we discuss the evidence for objective measures of EGJ competency, which should guide the clinical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Additionally, we will briefly discuss expected normal values after antireflux surgery.

Esophageal Manometry Testing and Anti-Reflux Surgery: The Preoperative Necessity and Prognostic Utility

Manometric assessment of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) and esophageal body is the key to a better understanding of the mechanics of antireflux surgery (ARS) and maximizing its benefits while minimizing adverse outcomes. However, there is an attitude of uncertainty regarding the necessity of esophageal motility prior to ARS among some surgeons. This evidence-based review highlights the critical role of manometry in the preoperative workup for patients undergoing ARS. It also discusses how manometry can detect findings associated with favorable outcomes or the risk of postoperative dysphagia. Manometric data can be used for risk stratification and the prediction of outcomes, aiding the surgeon in matching an operation to the specific physiology of each individual patient.

Ineffective Esophageal Motility: Need for Improvement in Diagnostic Criteria

Ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) is a hypomotility disorder with decreased contraction vigor and normally relaxing lower esophageal sphincter. Although IEM has been associated with poor esophageal clearance and gastroesophageal reflux, it is also seen in asymptomatic subjects and is often of unclear clinical significance. The Chicago classification version 4.0 updated the diagnostic threshold to require >70% weak or fragmented swallows or ≥50% failed swallows for a conclusive diagnosis of IEM. Provocation testing are recommended in borderline cases to assess clinical relevance. Prospective trials are needed to further refine the diagnostic criteria, understand the pathophysiology, and develop an effective treatment for IEM.

The Impact of Bariatric Procedures on Esophageal Motility

Bariatric operations may cause or cure gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The comprehension of esophageal motility following different types of bariatric procedures may help understand the relationship between GERD and bariatric surgery. This review focused on the impact of bariatric procedures on esophageal motility. We found that lower esophageal sphincter resting pressure is increased after adjustable gastric banding; is unaltered or decreased after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass; and is decreased after sleeve gastrectomy. Lower esophageal sphincter relaxation may be abnormal after all these procedures. Esophageal body contractility is worsened after sleeve gastrectomy.