Barrett's Oesophagitis

Barrett's Oesophagitis is a condition of the distal oesophagus in which the normal mucosa is replaced by a different kind of lining. This is thought to be an adaptive response to protect the food pipe from acid and bile. This requires regular endoscopic surveillance by a gastroenterologist.

When the distal oesophageal mucosa (inner lining) has been exposed to a large amount of acid and bile salts for a long time, the lining changes its nature to accommodate this hostile environment. These changes include the development of gastric (stomach) and intestinal type mucosa in the distal oesophagus (specialized columnar epithelium). The distal oesophageal mucosa that has undergone two stages of character change (gastric to intestinal metaplasia) has the potential in a very small number of cases to become malignant.This only happens in a very small number of poeple, and by having regular gasroscopies, we can monitor the area for early changes.

Treatment

Treatment of Barrett's oesophagitis is treatment of reflux related symptoms and signs (so you will need to stay on medication long term). However, Barrett's patients are in need to periodic surveillance to watch for developing changes (usually every 2 years).

Neigher the lack of reflux symptoms, nor the treatment of reflux through medical or surgical methods eliminate the need for this surveillance.