Barrett's esophagus is a potentially pre-cancerous condition of the lining of the esophagus that is caused by chronic heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease. GERD is a disorder where the stomach contents back up into the esophagus. This chronic GERD can cause injury and inflammation of the lining of the esophagus.
For patients with long-term GERD or heartburn, the Barrett’s esophagus condition can lead to cancer. Each year, approximately 5 patients out of every 1,000 with Barrett’s esophagus will develop cancer of the esophagus.
Henry Ford Hopsital surgeons are the only ones in the state of Michigan offering a new surgical treatment to heal the esophageal lining that is damaged by GERD. In the first 50 patients treated here, surgeons documented a 95 percent success rate at complete Barrett's ablation after one year. Using the HALO 360 device (the BARRx system), our surgeons remove the Barrett's tissue (damaged lining in the esophagus) in a short, well-tolerated endoscopic procedure. This is a same-day procedure that requires no surgery.
By using this device, patients don’t have to suffer or just “watch” the Barrett’s esophagus develop into cancer.
How the Surgery Works
A catheter is inserted into your esophagus along side the endoscope. At the tip of the catheter there is a small balloon that is inflated once inside the esophagus near the treatment area. The balloon and the HALO360 Energy Generator together measure the diameter of the esophagus.
After the physician has a good measure of the inside of the esophagus, another catheter is inserted that has a band of radiofrequency electrodes around it. Once in place in the right treatment area, the physician delivers a short burst of energy from the catheter to the lining. The burst of energy usually last less than one second. The design of this technology limits the energy delivered so that it doesn’t go too deep into the tissue layers.
Outcomes Henry Ford Hospital surgeons are among the only in the Midwest providing this procedure for patients. In treating patients, surgeons found that patients tolerate the procedure well and receive significant relief from the Barrett’s esophagus. Henry Ford Hospital surgeons have performed over 50 of these procedures. This initial success rate at eliminating the Barrett’s esophagus is over 75 percent. With additional treatments, the success rate is over 95 percent. Clinical studies show that re-growth of healthy tissue occurs within one month in the treated area.
The studies also demonstrated that patients had 90% of their Barrett's removed after one or two treatment sessions at one year follow-up. In addition, the studies showed that over 90 percent of the patients were completely cured of their Barrett's after one or two treatments at their one year follow-up. The remaining patients had small focal areas left to be treated.
Barrett's esophagus is a potentially pre-cancerous condition of the lining of the esophagus that is caused by chronic heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease. GERD is a disorder where the stomach contents back up into the esophagus. This chronic GERD can cause injury and inflammation of the lining of the esophagus.
