About the Barrx Procedure in Williamsport, PA

Barrx is a treatment option for Barrett’s Esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition that affects the lining of the esophagus and is a result of GERD. This outpatient procedure is preformed to minimize one's risk of developing esophageal cancer due to Barrett’s Esophagus.

UPMC offers Barrx in Williamsport, PA, and the surrounding areas. For the services you need, visit our office at UPMC Williamsport, located on the 5th floor, or call 570-321-3454 to make an appointment. For a direct referral for endoscopy, please call 570-321-3331. 

Barrx Preparation

Prior to your procedure, you should follow these instructions, along with any other specific instructions provided by your physician:

• no eating or drinking after midnight the day of your procedure
• you should not drive after the procedure so you will need to arrange transportation
• if you take Aspirin or blood thinners, your doctor should recommend when to stop taking them prior to the procedure

How It Works

During the procedure, you will lay on your left side, bite block will be placed in your mouth to keep it open and you will receive a sedative. You will then swallow a thin, flexible, lighted tube called an endoscope, which transmits an image of the interior of your esophagus for the physician to examine. Once the physician has identified the area needing treatment, they will then insert a Barrx ablation catheter into the esophagus to heat and removes a very thin layer of the diseased esophagus.

After the Procedure

For several days after the procedure, you might experience some chest discomfort and difficulty swallowing, which can be treated with medication prescribed by your physician. You will be required to take anti-acid medications to promote healing of the treated esophagus.

Two to three months after the procedure you will have a follow-up appointment with your physician so they can assess your body's response to the procedure. 

At UPMC, our gastroenterologists’ primary goal is to provide compassionate care to help individuals improve any digestive health discomfort they may feel. If you’re nervous about a Barrx procedure, meet our dedicated team and put your worries at ease.

At UPMC we can perform a Barrx procedure to help treat Barrett’s esophagus in Williamsport, PA, and the surrounding areas.