# 2253 What Is the Clinical Significance of Esophageal Histology After
Antireflux Surgery?
Jarmo A. Salo, Tuomo K Rantanen, Judith Makinen, Pentti
Sipponen, Tuula Kiviluoto, Juhani O. Ramo, Espoo, Finland,
Helsinki, Finland, Vantaa, Finland
The laparoscopic technique has increased the number of antireflux operations
and postoperative esophagoscopies including biopsies. However, there
is only limited and controversial information about the effect of successful
fundoplication on esophageal mucosal histology and its clinical significance.
40 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) without
Barrettīs metaplasia (pH < 4, mean 13.3% in 24 hour pH monitoring) had
fundoplication. Healing of GERD was verified by endoscopy (normal mucosa
and intact wrap), normal 24 hour pH monitoring (pH < 4, mean 1.13%)
and normal LES pressure (mean 19 mmHg). 97 pre- and 94 postoperative
biopsies from macroscopic lesions or 3-5 cm above the esophagogastric
junction were randomly examined by two blinded experienced
histopathologists (Hpath I/Hpath II) without knowing the clinical situation
or the timing of the biopsies. In addition, inter- and intraobserver
variation was determined. 32/31 patients (Hpath I/Hpath II) had adequate
biopsies for both pre- and postoperative histological analysis according to
Richardson et al (1). Hpath I: Postoperative biopsies: 69% normal, 22%
mild, 3% moderate and 6% severe histological changes of reflux esophagitis,
not significantly different from preoperative findings. Changes improved
in 44% of patients, remained unchanged in 31% and progressed in 25%.
Hpath II: Postoperatively 77% normal biopsies (p = 0.001), 3% mild (p =
0.003), 13% moderate and 7% severe histological changes. Histological
changes improved in 45% of patients, remained unchanged in 39% and
progressed in 16%. Both pathologists interpreted 61% postoperative biopsies
to normal (p = 0.010) when compared to preoperative, 0% to mild, 3%
to moderate and 6.5% to severe changes. Histological changes improved in
11 patients (35.5%). Among Hpath I (90.6%) and Hpath II (81%) the disappearing
of esophageal mucosal inflammation correlated best to normalized
pH monitoring. In preoperative biopsies inter- and intraobserver variation
were 33.8% and 9.7%, and in postoperative biopsies 21.1% and 5.6%.
Despite of healing of GERD after successful antireflux surgery the esophageal
histology remains confusing. The clinical impact of routine esophageal
histology after successful fundoplication is limited if other findings
such as endoscopic finding including fundic wrap and 24 hour pH monitoring
are normal.
Reference: 1) Richardson J,Kuhns J, Richardson R, Polk H Jr. Properly conducted
fundoplication reverses histologic evidence of esophagitis. Ann Surg
1983;6:763-769.
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