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INTRODUCTION. The Zenker’s diverticulum is a protrusion of the wall of the pharyngeal-esophageal junction from the area of the Killian triangle as a result of persistent spasm of the cricopharyngeal muscle. The prevalence of the disease in Russia is 3 cases per 100 thousand people, in the world 0.01–0.11 %.METHODS AND MATERIALS . At the N. N. Burdenko Faculty Surgery Clinic of the I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University 2 patients with small diverticulum underwent endoscopic tunnel cricopharyngeal myotomy and 3 patients with large diverticulum underwent video-assisted transaxillary diverticulectomy.RESULTS . Compared with surgical methods for the treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum endoscopic methods have a lower complication rate, but a higher recurrence rate.CONCLUSION. Despite the introduction of new treatment methods, it is advisable to adhere to a differentiated approach to the treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum. Surgical treatment is indicated for patients with a large diverticulum in the absence of contraindications to surgery. Transluminal endoscopic methods, including cricopharyngeal tunnel myotomy, can be considered as a treatment for patients with small-sized Zenker’s diverticulum, as well as patients with large diverticulum who have concomitant diseases and contraindications to traditional surgery.

Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) is an acquired, false, and pulsion diverticulum formed by the protrusion of mucosa and submucosa through Killian's dehiscence. The index case is a 91-year-old Nepali patient with a known history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, rheumatic heart disease, and stage 4 chronic kidney disease, who has been experiencing dysphagia, halitosis, and chronic cough for 25 years. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest revealed an outpouching filled with air, fluid, and some solid contents, arising at the level of the cricoid cartilage and extending posteriorly to the esophagus, compressing it. A barium swallow test was performed for confirmation and revealed similar findings. The patient was counseled for surgery but declined due to old age and comorbidities. ZD is commonly seen in the geriatric population and patients with neuromuscular discordance. Barium swallow and CT chest scans can diagnose ZD, and surgery is the mainstay of treatment.

Background: The European Society of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy recommends a primarily flexible endoscopic approach for the treatment of Zenker's diverticulum. Due to the rarity of the disorder, evidence for its effectiveness and safety comes mainly from small, retrospective, single-center studies. Methods: In this retrospective, observational, multicenter cohort study, data from six German tertiary referral centers were analyzed. The primary outcome parameters were technical and clinical success; among the secondary outcomes, the rates of adverse events (AE) and re-admission with symptomatic recurrence and mortality were the most relevant. Results: Between 2003 and 2024, 384 treatments were performed in 327 patients (61.8% male, mean age 74.70 (± 10.60)). Incision methods/techniques were 250 needle knives, 44 ESD knives, 64 stag beetle knives, 24 staplers, one APC-probe, and one Z-POEM. The Zenker's diverticulum overtube was used in 65.1%, prophylactic clipping in 30.2%, and antibiotic therapy in 25.3% of treatments. The rates of technical and clinical success were 99.2% and 97.4%, and the rates of AE and re-admission with symptomatic recurrence were 11.2% and 16.7%, respectively. Mortality was 0.3%. Comparative subgroup analyses of 312 diverticula without prior treatment versus 72 symptomatic recurrences and incision methods/techniques showed no significant differences in outcome parameters. The use of additional devices and prophylactic measures (clipping, antibiotic therapy) were not independent predictors of technical/clinical success or AE in uni-/multivariable regression analysis. Conclusions: Flexible endoscopic Zenker's diverticulotomy is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment. Recurrences can be treated by flexible endoscopy with comparable results. None of the cutting methods, ancillary devices, or prophylactic measures showed superiority in effectiveness or safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Minimally invasive endoscopic options are safe and effective alternatives to surgery for the treatment of symptomatic Zenker's diverticulum (ZD). However, there is no consensus on the gold-standard approach. We compared the safety and efficacy of Zenker's peroral endoscopic myotomy (Z-POEM), flexible diverticulotomy (FD), and rigid diverticulotomy (RD) for the management of ZD. Methods: Patients undergoing treatment for ZD at three UK tertiary referral centres were identified and analysed between 2013 and 2023. Patient demographics, procedural details, clinical success, and 30-day adverse events (AE) were recorded. The primary outcomes were technical and clinical success defined as a fall in Dakkak and Bennett dysphagia score to ≤ 1 without re-intervention. Results: There was no difference in baseline characteristics amongst 126 patients undergoing intervention (50 RD, 31 FD, 45 Z-POEM). Technical success for RD, FD, and Z-POEM was 80%, 100%, and 100%, respectively (p < 0.001). Over a mean follow-up of 11.0 months (95% CI 8.2–13.9), clinical success amongst those treated was 85.3% (RD), 74.1% (FD), and 83.7% (Z-POEM; p = 0.48) with recurrence in 17.2% (RD), 20.0% (FD), and 8.3% (Z-POEM; p = 0.50). AEs were equivalent between groups (p = 0.98). During this time, 11 patients underwent surgical myotomy with low clinical success (36.4%) and high morbidity. Conclusion: Endoscopic options for the treatment of ZD show equivalent rates of success, but failed RD often led to open myotomy with worse outcomes. Flexible endoscopic modalities are both safe and highly effective treatments that may be considered first-line in experienced centres and should be offered before surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zenker's Diverticulum (ZD) is the most common hypopharyngeal diverticulum; however, it is often underdiagnosed. It results from the herniation of the mucosa and submucosa through Killian's Triangle. Dysphagia is the primary symptom, occurring in 80–90% of cases. The primary goal of treatment is to transect the cricopharyngeal muscle (CM) and connect the ZD cavity to the esophageal lumen. Traditional treatments include surgical open transcervical diverticulectomy and CM septomyotomy, using rigid or flexible endoscopes. However, surgery is burdened by technical difficulties and not negligible rates of adverse events (AEs). For this reason, endoscopic techniques for ZD treatment have gained traction in recent years. Flexible endoscopic septum division (FESD), introduced nearly 20 years ago, involves a full-thickness incision of the diverticular septum. The advent of third-space endoscopy has led to the application of these techniques to ZD treatment as well. Zenker-POEM (Z-POEM) and, subsequently, Per Oral Endoscopic Septomyotomy (POES) have been developed. Hybrid techniques, such as Peroral Endoscopic Diverticulotomy (POED) and tunneling-free methods, represent additional ZD treatment options. This review outlines the armamentarium of ZD endoscopic management, summarizing the characteristics of these techniques, their benefits and limitations, and highlighting future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveEndoscopic Zenker's diverticulotomy (EZD) is typically performed via stapling (endoscopic staple diverticulotomy; ESD) or CO2 laser (endoscopic laser diverticulotomy; ELD). Conflicting reports exist on which approach provides optimal outcomes. This investigation compared objective fluoroscopic data between ESD and ELD.MethodsA retrospective review of all patients undergoing primary EZD at a tertiary center between January 1, 2014 and January 10, 2022 was performed. Patients undergoing ESD and ELD were matched by preoperative diverticulum size. Primary outcome measures were postoperative diverticulum size and change in diverticulum size from pre- to postoperative swallowing fluoroscopy. Secondary outcome measures were the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) score, penetration aspiration scale (PAS), pharyngeal constriction ratio (PCR), and pharyngoesophageal segment opening (PESo).ResultsThirteen matched pairs with complete fluoroscopic data were identified. The mean (±SD) age of the cohort was 74.0 (±8.5) years. There were no age or gender differences between groups (p > 0.05). The mean pre-operative ZD size was 1.98 (±0.69) cm for ESD and 1.97 (±0.72) cm for ELD; the mean postoperative size was 0.84 (±0.62) cm for ESD and 0.34 (±0.27) cm for ELD (p

Background Peroral endoscopic myotomy (Z-POEM) is an effective treatment for Zenker's diverticulum (ZD), but procedural time and safety vary based on technique. Modified Z-POEM approaches incorporating fewer submucosal tunnels may offer advantages. Method In this retrospective, single-center study, we compared outcomes among 20 patients with ZD undergoing standard Z-POEM (2 tunnels), single-tunnel Z-POEM (ST Z-POEM), or tunnel-free Z-POEM (TF Z-POEM). All procedures included mucosotomy over the septum and deep extension of myotomy into the esophagus (2 cm). Primary endpoints were procedural time, clinical success, and adverse events. Results Patients had a mean age of 67.3±12.2 years, and 70% presented with respiratory symptoms. Mean procedure times were 45 min (standard Z-POEM), 33 min (ST Z-POEM), and 30 min (TF Z-POEM), with a statistically significant difference between the standard and TF Z-POEM groups (P=0.014). Technical success was 100%, and the mean hospital stay was 1.3±1.3 days. One adverse event (5%) occurred. Clinical success, defined as improvement in dysphagia score (3 to 0.05, P<0.001) and resolution of respiratory symptoms, was achieved in all patients. Conclusions In this study, modified Z-POEM techniques utilizing single-tunnel or tunnelfree approaches, combined with over-the-septum mucosotomy and deep esophageal myotomy (2 cm), demonstrated feasibility, safety and a significantly shorter procedural time compared to standard Z-POEM. These findings suggest potential benefits for ZD treatment, warranting further investigation in larger prospective studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stag Beetle Knife (SB Knife) is increasingly being utilized for Zenker's Diverticulectomy (ZD). Our study assessed the effectiveness and safety of the SB Knife for the management of ZD. Ovid EBM reviews, Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline, ClinicalTrials.gov , Scopus, and Web of Science were searched to identify studies that utilized SB knife for ZD. Pooled proportions (PP) were calculated using the random-effects model. Heterogeneity was evaluated using I2 statistics. A total of 7 studies with 268 patients were included in the final analysis. Dysphagia and regurgitation were the most common clinical symptoms. The mean size of the ZD was 2.8 ± 0.7 cm and 28 (of 148) patients had undergone previous treatments. The PP of technical success was 98% (95% CI: 92.3–99.5; I20) with a mean procedure duration of 26.2 ± 8.3 minutes. The PP of clinical response at first follow-up and relapse after index procedure was 87.9% (95% CI: 81.6–92.3; I219) and 13.5% (95% CI: 9.6–18.6; I22), respectively. At final follow-up, the PP of clinical remission was 96.2% (95% CI: 91–98.4; I230.6) while the PP of procedure failure was 3.6% (95% CI: 1.6–8.1; I20). No severe adverse events (AEs) were noted while using the SB Knife. However, the PP of intraprocedural and postprocedural AEs was 13.2% (95% CI: 9.6–17.8; I20) and 9.3% (95% CI: 5.7–14.9; I2 < 20.9), respectively. SB Knife is highly safe and effective for Zenker's Diverticulectomy with a failure rate of only 3.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Esophageal diverticula were traditionally treated with open surgery, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Management has shifted to minimally invasive approaches with several advantages. We examine outcomes in patients with esophageal diverticula treated with minimally invasive techniques by a multidisciplinary surgical team at a single center. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed for patients who underwent minimally invasive surgery for esophageal diverticula at our institution from June 2010 to December 2022. Primary outcomes were 30-day morbidity and mortality rates. Secondary outcomes were symptom resolution, length of stay (LOS), readmission, and need for reintervention. Results: A total of 28 patients were identified. Twelve patients had pharyngeal diverticula, 7 patients had midesophageal diverticula, and 9 patients had epiphrenic diverticula. Thirty-day morbidity and readmission rates were 10.7% (3 patients), 1 pharyngeal (sepsis), 1 midesophageal (refractory nausea), and 1 epiphrenic (poor oral intake). There were no esophageal leaks. Average LOS was 2.3 days, with the pharyngeal group experiencing a significantly shorter LOS (1.3 days versus 3.4 days for midesophageal, P < .01 versus 2.8 days for epiphrenic, P < .05). Symptom resolution after initial operation was 78.6%. Reintervention rate was 17.9%, and symptom resolution after reintervention was 100%. There were no mortalities. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that esophageal diverticula can be repaired safely and efficiently when performed by a multidisciplinary team utilizing advanced minimally invasive endoscopic and robotic surgical techniques. We advocate for the management of this rare condition at a high-volume center with extensive experience in foregut surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El divertículo de Zenker, es el que se observa con más frecuencia hoy entre los divertículos esofágicos, mayormente en pacientes de edad avanzada. El objetivo es exponer en este caso la sistemática diagnóstica y la conducta tomada, por lo infrecuente de esta entidad. Paciente masculino de 58 años de edad que acude por disfagia de dos meses de evolución, accesos de tos, halitosis y pérdida de peso. Se efectúan estudios donde se diagnostica divertículo de Zenker y se realiza diverticulopexia con sutura del divertículo a la faringe posterior en oposición a la fascia prevertebral como tratamiento quirúrgico con buena recuperación y solución de la sintomatología inicial. El caso tiene una presentación semejante a la descrita en la literatura revisada en cuanto a características clínicas y estudios diagnósticos. La diverticulopexia con miotomía del cricofaríngeo se utiliza por su baja incidencia de complicaciones y rápida recuperación, dado el estado del enfermo.

Introduction: Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) is a false pulsion diverticulum of the cervical esophagus. It is typically found in older adults and manifests with dysphagia. The purpose of this study is to describe our experience with Per-oral endoscopic myotomy for Zenker's (Z-POEM) and intraoperative impedance planimetry (FLIP). Methods: We performed a single institution retrospective review of patients undergoing Z-POEM in a prospective database between 2014 and 2022. Upper esophageal sphincter (UES) distensibility index (DI, mm2/mmHg) was measured by FLIP before and after myotomy. The primary outcome was clinical success. Secondary outcomes included technical failure, adverse events, and quality of life as assessed by the gastroesophageal health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL), reflux severity index (RSI), and dysphagia score. A statistical analysis of DI was done with the paired t-test (p < 0.05). Results: Fifty-four patients underwent Z-POEM, with FLIP measurements available in 30 cases. We achieved technical success and clinical success in 54/54 (100%) patients and 46/54 patients (85%), respectively. Three patients (6%) experienced contained leaks. Three patients were readmitted: one for aforementioned contained leak, one for dysphagia, and one post-operative pneumonia. Three patients with residual dysphagia underwent additional endoscopic procedures, all of whom had diverticula > 4 cm. Following myotomy, mean DI increased by 2.0 ± 1.7 mm2/mmHg (p < 0.001). In those with good clinical success, change in DI averaged + 1.6 ± 1.1 mm2/mmHg. Significant improvement was found in RSI and GERD-HRQL scores, but not dysphagia score. Conclusion: Z-POEM is a safe and feasible for treatment of ZD. We saw zero cases of intraoperative abandonment. We propose that large diverticula (> 4 cm) are a risk factor for poor outcomes and may require additional endoscopic procedures. An improvement in DI is expected after myotomy, however, the ideal range is still not known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zenker's diverticulum is a false diverticulum arising in the oesophago-pharyngeal junction. It may cause symptoms like dysphagia and regurgitation. In Central Norway, treatment is centralized to St. Olavs hospital, either as an endoscopic stapled oesophago-diverticulostomy procedure at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery or as laser diverticulostomy at the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, depending on diverticulum size. Retrospective, population-based, study from 2001–2020 on patients treated for Zenker's diverticulum, at the time with a rigid endoscopic approach. Patients were identified through the in-hospital register for operations. The two treatment groups were compared on relevant pre-, intra-, and postoperative variables by review of the individual patient records. 78 consecutive patients, 36 at Dept. of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery and 42 at Dept. of Gastrointestinal Surgery, were treated with a total of 104 interventions. Crude incidence for a surgery-demanding Zenker's diverticulum was 0.57 per 100 000 per year. The Dept. of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery administered significantly less often prophylactic antibiotics than the Dept. of Gastrointestinal Surgery (p < 0.001), administered more frequently intraoperative dexamethasone (p < 0.001), and had significantly more postoperative infections (19.6% vs 3.4%, p = 0.01). No procedure-related mortality was registered. Although no standardized follow-up took place, at a median of 119 months elapsed, observed clinical recurrence was 35% for the endostapler treatment and 51% for the laser treatment procedure. Both rigid endoscopic stapled oesophago-diverticulostomy and laser diverticulostomy are safe treatments for Zenker's diverticulum, however with a substantial risk of recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharyngoesophageal diverticulum, or Zenker's diverticulum (ZD), is a rare pathology. With small diverticula that do not cause inflammation in the esophagus, the patient may not have any complaints or may only have a slight cough. As food accumulates in the formed diverticulum, its size increases, which is often accompanied by inflammation of the esophageal wall, compression of nearby organs, development of aspiration pneumonia, and in some cases may lead to esophageal perforation or esophageal bleeding. These complications can be life-threatening, so early diagnosis of ZD is extremely important. The article describes a clinical case of an elderly man with a late diagnosis of pharyngoesophageal diverticulum, complicated by the development of aspiration pneumonia, cachexia, electrolyte disturbances and acute renal failure. The complexity of patient management and diagnosis was due to recurrent aspiration with the development of severe pneumonia and the complexity of endoscopic examination methods.

Zenker per-oral endoscopic myotomy (ZPOEM) has become a promising technique for Zenker's diverticulum (ZD). The aim of this study was to add to the limited body of literature evaluating the safety and efficacy of ZPOEM. A prospectively maintained database was retrospectively reviewed to identify patients who underwent ZPOEM at two separate institutions between January 2020 and January 2022. Demographics, preoperative and postoperative clinical data, intraoperative data, adverse events, and length of stay were analyzed. A total of 40 patients (mean age 72.5 years, 62.5% male) were included. Average operative time was 54.7 minutes and average length of stay was 1.1 days. There were three adverse events, and only one was related to the technical aspects of the procedure. Patients showed improvement in the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) scores at 1 month (5 vs 7, p  < 0.0001). The median FOIS scores remained 7 at both 6 and 12 months, although this improvement was not statistically significant at these time intervals (p  = 0.46 and 0.37, respectively). Median dysphagia scores were decreased at 1 (2.5 vs 0, p  < 0.0001), 6 (2.5 vs 0, p  < 0.0001), and 12 months (2.5 vs 0, p  = 0.016). The number of patients reporting ≥1 symptom was also decreased at 1 (40 vs 9, p  < 0.0001) and 6 months (40 vs 1, p  = 0.041). Although the number of patients reporting ≥1 symptom remained consistent at 12 months, this was not statistically significant (40 vs 1, p  = 0.13). ZPOEM is a safe and highly effective treatment for the management of ZD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An esophageal diverticulum is a relatively rare disease, with reports of treatment for esophageal cancer in the diverticulum even rarer. Case presentation: The case involved a 72-year-old male with a chief complaint of dysphagia. He was diagnosed with an esophageal diverticulum (Zenker's diverticulum) measuring 10 cm in diameter. Five years later, an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed an iodine-unstained 0–IIb lesion of 20 mm in diameter with type B1 vessels in the diverticulum. An endoscopic biopsy and CT revealed it to be squamous cell carcinoma, cT1a-EP/LPM N0 M0, cStage 0. Because the lesion was in the diverticulum and endoscopic resection was difficult with the risk of perforation, surgical resection was set as the course of treatment. Diverticulectomy was performed via a cervical approach, using a stapler, and the patient was discharged on the 16th day without any complications. The pathological diagnosis was pTis-EP, ly0, v0, R0. Conclusions: We think this case is very rare and diverticulectomy of early esophageal cancer in the diverticulum is available and safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Endoscopic Zenker's diverticulotomy (EZD) is typically performed via stapling (endoscopic staple diverticulotomy; ESD) or CO2 laser (endoscopic laser diverticulotomy; ELD). Conflicting reports exist on which approach provides optimal outcomes. This investigation compared objective fluoroscopic data between ESD and ELD. Methods: A retrospective review of all patients undergoing primary EZD at a tertiary center between January 1, 2014 and January 10, 2022 was performed. Patients undergoing ESD and ELD were matched by preoperative diverticulum size. Primary outcome measures were postoperative diverticulum size and change in diverticulum size from pre‐ to postoperative swallowing fluoroscopy. Secondary outcome measures were the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT‐10) score, penetration aspiration scale (PAS), pharyngeal constriction ratio (PCR), and pharyngoesophageal segment opening (PESo). Results: Thirteen matched pairs with complete fluoroscopic data were identified. The mean (±SD) age of the cohort was 74.0 (±8.5) years. There were no age or gender differences between groups (p > 0.05). The mean pre‐operative ZD size was 1.98 (±0.69) cm for ESD and 1.97 (±0.72) cm for ELD; the mean postoperative size was 0.84 (±0.62) cm for ESD and 0.34 (±0.27) cm for ELD (p < 0.05). Mean diverticulum size improved by 1.14 (±0.59) cm after ESD and 1.62 (±0.59) cm after ELD (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in postoperative EAT‐10, PAS, PCR, or PESo between groups. Conclusion: The data suggest that endoscopic laser Zenker's diverticulotomy results in a greater improvement in diverticulum size than endoscopic staple diverticulotomy. The data did not suggest a difference in postoperative dysphagia symptom scores or other objective fluoroscopic parameters between staple and laser diverticulotomy. Level of Evidences: Level 3 Laryngoscope, 133:3057–3060, 2023 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the outcomes of patients undergoing open stapler versus transoral rigid and flexible endoscopic therapies for symptomatic Zenker's diverticulum. Study Design: Single institution retrospective review. Setting: Tertiary care academic hospital. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of 424 consecutive patients who underwent Zenker's diverticulotomy via an open stapler, rigid endoscopic CO2 laser, rigid endoscopic stapler, rigid endoscopic harmonic scalpel, or flexible endoscopic technique from January 2006 to December 2020. Results: A total of 424 patients (173 females, mean age 73.1 ± 11.2 years) from a single institution were included. A total of 142 patients (33%) underwent endoscopic laser treatment, 33 (8%) underwent endoscopic harmonic scalpel, 92 (22%) underwent endoscopic stapler, 70 (17%) underwent flexible endoscopic, and 87 (20%) underwent open stapler. All open and rigid endoscopic procedures and most of the flexible endoscopic procedures (65%) were performed under general anesthesia. The flexible endoscopic group had a higher percentage of procedure‐related perforation, defined as subcutaneous emphysema or contrast leak on imaging (14.3%). The recurrence rates were higher in the harmonic stapler, flexible endoscopic, and endoscopic stapler groups at 18.2%, 17.1%, and 17.4%, respectively, and lower in the open group (1.1%). Length of hospital stay and return to oral intake were similar among groups. Conclusion: The flexible endoscopic technique was associated with the highest rate of procedure‐related perforation, while the endoscopic stapler had the lowest number of procedural complications. Recurrence rates were higher among the harmonic stapler, flexible endoscopic, and endoscopic stapler groups and lower in the endoscopic laser and open groups. Prospective comparative studies with long‐term follow‐up are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we present the case of a patient with previously undiagnosed myasthenia gravis who underwent an endoscopic procedure for Zenker's diverticulum. The patient was readmitted due to ongoing dysphagia and severe respiratory distress caused by myasthenic crisis. This case demonstrates that myasthenia gravis, although rare, can occur in elderly patients and present with other sequelae that may mask the underlying diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symptoms of Zenker diverticulum can recur whatever the type of primary treatment administered. A modified transoral stapler-assisted septotomy (TS) was introduced in clinical practice a few years ago to improve the results of this mini-invasive technique. The aim of this prospective, controlled study was to assess the outcome of TS in patients with recurrent Zenker diverticulum (RZD), as compared with patients with treatment-naïve Zenker diverticulum (NZD). Patients diagnosed with NZD or RZD, and treated with TS between 2015 and 2021 were compared. Symptoms were recorded and scored using a detailed questionnaire. Barium swallow and endoscopy were performed before and after the TS procedure. In sum, 89 patients were enrolled during the study period: 68 had NZD and 21 had RZD. The patients' demographic and clinical data were similar in the two groups. Three mucosal lesions were detected intra-operatively, and one came to light at post-operative radiological assessment in the NZD group. No mucosal lesions were detected in the RZD group. The median follow-up was 36 months (interquartile range 23–60). The treatment was successful in 97% NZD patients and 95% of RZD patients (P  = 0.56). This is the first comparative study based on prospectively collected data to assess the outcome of TS in patients with RZD. Traction on the septum during the procedure proved effective in the treatment of RZD, achieving a success rate that was excellent, and comparable with the outcome in treating NZD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the surgical treatment of Zenker's diverticulum, endoscopic methods applied under general anesthesia have been used frequently in recent years. Endoscopic methods have gained popularity due to the shorter operative time, shorter hospital stay and transition to oral feeding, and low complication rates in selected patients. In this article, in the surgical treatment of Zenker's diverticulum; the open surgical approach and the transoral endoscopic surgical technique were compared. Materials and Methods: The patients in the study were divided into two groups those who underwent open surgery and those who underwent stapled diverticulectomy. Demographic data (age and gender), pre-operative symptoms (vomiting, dysphagia, and regurgitation), presence of post-operative complications, duration of hospitalization, diverticulum size, and long-term recurrence status of all patients were included in the study. Results: A total of 12 patients were included in the study. Staple diverticulectomy was performed in six of 12 patients by open surgical technique and in the other six patients by endoscopic technique. The mean ages of the patients who underwent endoscopic and open surgical modalities were 69 (61-84) and 68 (53-81), respectively. Of the patients who underwent open surgery, five were male and one was female. Of the patients who underwent endoscopic stapler diverticulectomy, four were male and two were female. Of the patients in the group who underwent open surgery, one had preoperative vomiting, three had dysphagia, and two had regurgitation. Conclusion: We think that transoral diverticulotomy is an effective surgical option that can be safely performed in selected patients and can provide successful results at least in the early period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: Minimally invasive endoscopic techniques are the treatment of choice for Zenker's diverticulum (ZD). Our objective was to evaluate the results and efficacy of endoscopic and open approaches, to determine whether postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels can be used as a marker to exclude the presence of esophageal leakage, and to identify risk factors for development of postoperative leakage and complications. Materials and methods: Patients who underwent transcervical myotomy and diverticulotomy (TMD) or endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy (ECM) with CO2 laser for ZD in years 2008–2021 at our department were included in this retrospective study. Results: Of the 101 patients enrolled, 83 patients underwent ECM and 18 TMD. The procedure time of the endoscopic technique was significantly shorter compared to that of transcervical method (p < 0.001). The median time to oral intake was 6 days for ECM and 10.5 days in the TMD group (p < 0.001). There was a 13% (n = 11) and 16.7% (n = 3) symptomatic recurrence rate and 3.6% (n = 3) and 16.7% (n = 3) major complications rate for ECM and TMD groups, respectively. The incidence of contrast leak (CL) evaluated by postoperative swallow study was 8.9% (9 from 83 patients in the ECM group only). In patients with CL, a significant increase in CRP levels on postoperative day (POD) 2 and 3 was detected when compared to patients without CL. Conclusions: Endoscopic diverticulotomy with CO2 laser represents a safe and efficient treatment of ZD. Elevation of postoperative CRP serum levels over 123.8 mg/L on POD2 and 98.8 mg/L on POD3 may indicate presence of an esophageal leakage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Endoscopic treatment of Zenker's diverticulum is an attractive minimally invasive alternative compared to the classic open approach. However, increased recurrence rate were reported. In case of relapse, endoscopic therapy might be repeated, or alternatively open surgery is performed. This study aimed to identify potential differences in the outcomes between primary or secondary surgical treatment in Zenker's diverticulum. Methods: From January 2003 to April 2019, 227 subsequent patients underwent surgical diverticulectomy and cervical myotomy at the surgical department of TUM. 41 of 227 patients had received previous therapy, either open or endoscopic. Perioperative parameters in priorly untreated patients were retrospectively compared to those after previous therapy (mostly endoscopic) with special regard to perioperative data and postoperative complications. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify predictors for postoperative complications. Results: We could show that the number of complications (p = 0.047) in pretreated patients is significant higher as well as the severity after Clavien–Dindo (p = 0.025). Stapler line leakage, wound infections, and operative revision rate was higher also pretreated group. Pretreatment and surgery time showed a significant association with postoperative complications in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, pretreatment remained a significant independent predictor of complications. Conclusion: The present data indicate that endoscopic therapy might represent a risk factor for postoperative complications in case of relapse surgery. Therefore primary open surgery should be debated in patients with an increased high risk of relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of review: Esophageal diverticula are outpouchings of the esophageal mucosa that are an uncommon but well-established cause of dysphagia. The purpose of this review is to highlight the endoscopic and surgical management of the various subtypes of esophageal diverticula. Current findings: Both surgical and endoscopic management options exist for the various esophageal diverticula subtypes, including Zenker's diverticulum, Killian–Jamieson diverticulum, mid-esophageal diverticulum, and epiphrenic diverticulum. These treatment options should be considered for patients with symptomatic esophageal diverticula, while asymptomatic patients can be observed without need for intervention. Submucosal myotomy of the muscular septum is a newer promising technique for management of esophageal diverticula that merits further study. Summary: Surgical and endoscopic management of various esophageal diverticula appears to be safe and feasible.The literature on both surgical and endoscopic approaches appears most robust for Zenker's diverticula and is more limited for the other esophageal diverticula given their rarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The treatment of Zenker's diverticulum has been shifted from open cricopharyngeal myotomy and rigid endoscopy to the use of flexible endoscopy. Few studies evaluate general surgeon's performance of flexible endoscopic management of Zenker's diverticulum as the majority are performed by gastroenterologists. The objective of our case series is to show that general surgeons trained in surgical endoscopy can perform this procedure with favorable outcomes. Methods: A retrospective review of peroral cricopharyngeal myotomies performed at Spectrum Health hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan by a single surgical endoscopist between the 2018 and 2021 was conducted. The primary outcome was the improvement of dysphagia. Intra-procedural complications, post-procedural complications, hospital length of stay, time to oral intake, and recurrence were also evaluated. Age, sex, body mass index, diverticulum size, and procedure time were abstracted. Median (ranges) and frequencies (percentages) are used to describe the patient population and outcomes. Results: Forty patients were included in the study. Median age was 74 years old (60–95) with a male predominance (n = 27, 67.5%). Median BMI was 28 kg/m2 (18–43), average procedure length of 64 min (41–119), diverticulum size of 28 mm (19–90), and average length of stay of 0.9 days (0–8). There were no intra-procedural complications. All patients had a post-procedural esophagram prior to initiation of diet. Esophageal leak was the only complication that occurred, which was found on post-procedural esophagram (n = 5). Only two patients had clinical sequelae. All leaks closed without additional surgical intervention. The majority of patients had their diet resumed and discharged the same day of the procedure. Frequency of recurrence was 17.5% (n = 7). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that general surgeons trained in endoscopy can perform endoscopic myotomies for Zenker's diverticula on a wide range of sizes, with favorable patient outcomes, and few complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zenker's Diverticulum, named after Dr Friedrich Albert von Zenker (1825-1898) who in 1877 reported a series of 23 cases and first hypothesized its pathophysiology, is an uncommon pathology, occurring in elderly patients, predominantly males. It is suspected by the association of dysphagia and regurgitation, and diagnosed by a barium swallow radiography with video fluoroscopy. For a long time, its treatment was reserved for open surgery, then rigid endoscopy performed by ENT surgeons, despite a high morbidity rate for the former and technical limitations for the latter. Finally, the first septotomy with a flexible endoscope was reported very recently in 1995 by two different teams. Since then, endoscopic techniques have been adapted over the last two decades with increasing success and safety profile replacing conventional surgery as first line treatment according to ESGE recommendations (European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy). This mini-review aims to provide a synthesis of therapeutic methods with emphasis on the availability of flexible endoscopy and its future progress with the advent of Z-POEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare reflux symptoms, Zenker's diverticulum recurrence, and clinical outcomes in patients with and without a history of hiatal hernia who underwent Zenker's diverticulotomy (ZD)., Study Design: Single institution retrospective review., Setting: Tertiary care academic hospital., Methods: A retrospective review of patients with and without a history of hiatal hernia who underwent ZD via an open stapler, rigid endoscopic CO 2 laser, stapler, or harmonic scalpel technique from January 2006 to December 2020 was performed. Data were abstracted for patient demographics, reflux symptoms, and rates of adverse events and symptomatic recurrence., Results: A total of 426 patients were included in the study, 97 (22.8%) of which had a history of hiatal hernia. Eleven patients (11.3%) with a history of hiatal hernia had undergone Nissen fundoplication prior to ZD. Patients with a history of hiatal hernia showed less symptomatic improvement postoperatively. Significant differences were noted in the change in the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) (P < .01) and Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) (P = .03) where patients without a history of hiatal hernia improved more than hiatal hernia patients. Despite these differences in symptom relief, rates of postoperative complications and rates of recurrence did not significantly differ between groups. The median time to recurrence was similar for both groups., Conclusion: Patients without a history of hiatal hernia had significantly larger improvements in EAT-10 and RSI scores compared to patients with a history of hiatal hernia. However, these differences in scores may not represent clinically meaningful differences. There were no significant differences in postoperative adverse events or in recurrence of the Zenker's diverticulum between groups., (© 2024 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Background: Endoscopic treatments of symptomatic Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) include flexible endoscopic septotomy (FES) and, more recently, peroral endoscopic myotomy (Z-POEM). Data comparing these techniques are limited. We conducted a meta-analysis evaluating FES vs. Z-POEM for symptomatic ZD., Methods: Multiple databases were searched from inception to September 2024. Our primary outcomes were clinical and technical success. Secondary outcomes included adverse events, length of hospital stay (LOS), procedure time, and recurrence. A random-effects model was used, and outcomes were represented as pooled rates, relative risk (RR) and standardized mean difference (SMD), along with 95% confidence intervals (CI)., Results: Seven studies with 580 patients (Z-POEM=274, FES=306) were included. Mean age ranged from 68.9-74.9 years. The diverticulum size was not statistically different between the 2 groups: SMD -3.78 (-11.68 to 4.12), P=0.35. The pooled technical success was similar for Z-POEM and FES: RR 0.99 (95%CI 0.96-1.02; I 2 =0%); P=0.4. Clinical success rate was significantly higher for Z-POEM compared to FES: RR 1.11 (95%CI 1.04-1.18; I 2 =16%); P=0.001. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 treatment modalities in pooled rate of recurrence, adverse events, LOS or procedural time., Conclusions: Our analysis shows that Z-POEM and FES in the treatment of symptomatic ZD are both associated with high technical success and a good safety profile, and have comparable procedural times and rates of recurrence. Z-POEM may offer higher rates of clinical success at follow up., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: Dennis Yang is a consultant for Boston Scientific, Olympus, Fujifilm, Medtronic, Microtech, 3D-Matrix, Neptune Medical. Dennis Yang receives research grant support from Microtech and 3D-Matrix. All other authors report no conflicts of interest, (Copyright: © 2025 Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology.)

Introduction:Zenker's diverticulum is an acquired sac-like outpouching of the mucosa and submucosa layers originating at the pharyngoesophageal junction. The predominant symptom of Zenker’s diverticulum is dysphagia. Videofluoroscopy confirms the diagnosis. Forestier disease is a clinical entity characterized by ossification of anterolateral vertebral ligament and anterior osteophyte formation along the anterolateral spinal column. Its etiopathogenesis remains unknown and common symptoms are dysphagia, dysphonia and airway obstruction. The objective of this study is to identify a pathophysiological correlation between Forestier disease and the onset of Zenker’s diverticulum. Materials and Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted. The electronic database of our Radiology Unit was analyzed in order to identify patients with hypopharyngeal diverticulum and osteophytes at the cervical vertebrae level, from January 2010 to January 2021. The search was performed using precise keywords. Results:The computerized database search outlined 10 imaging exams: 5 videofluorographies and 5 computed tomography scans. In 100% of the cases, dysphagia was the main symptom that led to the diagnostic assessment; 30% of patients, on the other hand, reported dyspnoea. From the data analysis, the male / female ratio is 1: 1 and the average age of the patients is 64.8 (+/- 11.31) years. Conclusions:We assume that the anatomical abnormalities in Forestier disease may cause an increase of pharyngeal pressure and consequently support the development of the Zenker’s diverticulum. Hence, it is always recommended to investigate the presence of Zenker’s diverticulum in a patient with Forestier disease, especially for the life-threatening complications of Zenker’s diverticulum.

ObjectiveTo analyze the ultrasonographic features of pharyngoesophageal diverticulum (PED) mimicking thyroid nodules and to explore the clinical value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of PED.MethodThe sonographic findings of 68 patients with PED were retrospectively reviewed. According to the diverticulum echo intensity characteristics, the lesions were divided into solid nodular diverticulum, gas-containing nodular diverticulum, liquid-containing nodular diverticulum, and atypical diverticular changes; and the ultrasonographic manifestations were compared among the four groups.Results30/68 were solid nodular diverticula. The diverticulum cavity was oval or elliptic with a clear border, and the diverticulum wall suggested exhibited a typical hyper-hypo-hyper-echogenic pattern. The diverticulum wall and esophageal wall were seen to be continuous if multiple sections were scanned, and hypoechoic walls showed punctate blood flow. 29/68 diagnosed with air-containing nodular diverticulum, lesions appeared with gas-like hyper-echogenicity internally, with some amount of gas and change in the tail pattern during swallowing. 6/68 patients were diagnosed with liquid-containing nodular diverticulum, and the main ultrasonic manifestations were an anechoic internal diverticulum cavity that was clearly bounded from the thyroid but continuous with the esophageal wall, with a typical hyper-hypo-echoless pattern from the outside to the inside. Another 3/68 were found to have atypical diverticular changes, regional convexities of the esophageal wall with unfashioned nodules. The convex segment was continuous with the hyper-hypo-echogenic esophageal wall and could be seen on slitting scanning.ConclusionOverall, PEDs mimicking thyroid nodules have specific ultrasonographic features. Familiarity with them can avoid missed diagnoses and misdiagnoses.