Barrett's Esophagus in Thibodaux, LA

Most people notice that there are no specific symptoms associated with the tissue changes caused by Barrett’s esophagus. Most of the time, individuals with this condition may not experience any warning signs or symptoms.

If you have had heartburn or other types of symptoms for extended periods of time, we recommend requesting a consultation with your digestive health provider. The only way to confirm this condition is by way of a front-end GI endoscopy. Your Digestive Health Center GI provider will also, likely, take a biopsy of the cells in your esophagus to confirm the diagnosis.

Some of the symptoms associated with Barrett’s esophagus include:

• Persistent acid reflux (heartburn)
• Trouble swallowing
• Chest pain (not as common)

Care for Barrett’s esophagus is unique to other gastrointestinal diseases. The type of treatment recommended depends on the extent of precancerous tissue (dysplasia) present in your esophageal lining.

The different levels of dysplasia and possible treatment options include:

• Non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus: Even if no atypical cells are present, it is still important to arrange routine endoscopy tests to check for changes in the tissue in the esophagus. Your gastroenterologist will also normally recommend care much like those who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (like lifestyle recommendations or medication).
• Mild-grade dysplasia: With a minimal level of precancerous tissue formation, you may expect to receive endoscopic resection or radiofrequency ablation for removal.
• High-grade dysplasia: If you have a higher amount of abnormal esophageal lining, freezing treatments, light-based treatments, or esophagectomy may be needed.