Gastroenterological Society of Australia
Recommendations from the Gastroenterological Society of Australia on colonoscopies, fecal occult blood testing, proton pump inhibitors, coeliac disease & endoscopy. The Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) sets, promotes and continuously improves the standards of practice, training and research in gastroenterology and hepatology in Australia.
5.
Do not perform a follow-up endoscopy less than three years after two consecutive findings of no dysplasia from endoscopies with appropriate four quadrant biopsies for patients diagnosed with Barrett’s Oesophagus.
Barrett’s Oesophagus (or Barrett’s mucosa) is the term given to a change which occurs in the lining of the lower oesophagus. It occurs in a small proportion of patients with longstanding gastro-oesophageal reflux. The condition requires surveillance because of an increased risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). This usually develops slowly over a period of some years and can be predicted by the finding of pre-cancerous changes (dysplasia) on biopsies. However, systematic surveillance of Barrett’s Oesophagus patients has not been shown to be cost-effective, and no randomised controlled trials have been conducted to compare surveillance with the natural history of Barrett’s Oesophagus. According to currently-accepted guidelines, it is appropriate and safe to examine the oesophagus and check for dysplasia every three years, as cellular changes occur very slowly.
Supporting evidence
- Spechler SJ, Souza RF. Barrett’s Esophagus. N Engl J Med 2014;371:836-45.
- Shaheen NJ, Falk GW, Iyer PG, Gerson LB. ACG clinical guideline: diagnosis and management of Barrett’s esophagus. Am J Gastroenterol 2016;111:30-50.
How this list was made
The Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) initially engaged its members through its regular online communications, sharing the aims of the EVOLVE initiative, as well as background information on the US and Canadian versions of Choosing Wisely. Members were provided with a copy of the five recommendations made by the American Gastroenterology Association. GESA also consulted externally, with the EVOLVE Lead Fellow addressing the GUT club and the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Group on the initiative. All members of GESA were invited to submit proposed items for the Top 5 list. The GESA Council reviewed all items before reaching consensus on the recommended final list. A review of the evidence for the shortlisted items was then undertaken and the final list and its rationales were signed off by the GESA Council in May 2016.
- 1 Do not repeat colonoscopies more often than recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) endorsed guidelines
- 2 Do not undertake faecal occult blood testing in patients who report rectal bleeding, or require investigation for iron deficiency or gastrointestinal symptoms
- 3 Do not continue prescribing long term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medication to patients without attempting to reduce the medication down to the lowest effective dose or cease the therapy altogether
- 4 Do not undertake genetic testing for coeliac genes as a screening test for coeliac disease
- 5 Do not perform a follow-up endoscopy less than three years after two consecutive findings of no dysplasia from endoscopies with appropriate four quadrant biopsies for patients diagnosed with Barrett’s Oesophagus.