Endoscopic Thermal Ablation for BE

Endoscopic ablation was remarkably safe and effective in a small study of patients with nondysplastic Barrett esophagus, but does the therapy have any clinical value?

Some gastroenterologists now support use of endoscopic thermal ablation, coupled with potent acid suppression, in patients with Barrett esophagus. Although this intervention has not yet been proven to be effective in patients with dysplastic BE, investigators already are exploring its use in patients with nondysplastic BE.

In this industry-sponsored, prospective, multicenter trial, 70 adults with nondysplastic BE were treated (as outpatients under moderate sedation) with a radiofrequency-energy balloon that was positioned 1 cm proximal to the upper margin of visible BE and then repositioned visually for progressive treatment of residual distal BE. The balloon delivered 10 J/cm² of energy density, a dose selected for its safety and tolerabili…

Reviewing Author

David A. Johnson, MD