Bluffton Hospital is offering a new outpatient treatment that destroys pre-cancerous tissue in the lining of the esophagus.

The procedure, called endoscopic radiofrequency ablation therapy using the HALO System, was recently featured in the New England Journal of Medicine as a highly effective treatment for eradication of Barrett’s esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition that affects one to two million adults in the United States each year.

Barrett’s disease occurs when the esophagus is chronically exposed to gastric contents of the stomach caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease. With prolonged acid exposure, normal cells in the esophagus can undergo a genetic change and are then vulnerable to further changes that can lead to cancer.

Individuals with Barrett’s esophagus have a 40 to 130 times higher incidence of developing esophageal cancer than those without the condition. Esophageal is presently the fastest growing form of cancer in the United States.

The HALO System now being used at Bluffton Hospital provides uniform and controlled removal of the abnormal cells and also allows for regrowth of normal cells, thus eliminating or drastically reducing the chance for the development of cancer.

“This procedure allows us to effectively treat patients without injuring healthy underlying tissue in their esophagus. It is performed in an outpatient setting, without incisions, and takes less than 30 minutes on average,” said Jenn Hiester, manager of surgery at Bluffton Hospital.

According to Hiester, esophageal cancer is often incurable because the disease is frequently discovered in the advanced stages. “It usually starts with gastroesophageal reflux disease, which can cause Barrett’s disease, which can lead to esophageal cancer,” she said. “That’s why it’s important to seek medical treatment for symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, the most common being heartburn, so preventive measures such as this treatment can be taken.”

If you have questions about this treatment, call Bluffton Hospital Surgery Department at 419.369.2330.