Open AccessZenker's diverticula: pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and flexible endoscopic management
Author(s) -
Ferreira L. E. V. V. C.,
Simmons D. T.,
Baron T. H.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
diseases of the esophagus
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.115
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-2050
pISSN - 1120-8694
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-2050.2007.00795.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cricopharyngeal myotomy , myotomy , zenker's diverticulum , diverticulum (mollusc) , dysphagia , surgery , presentation (obstetrics) , pathophysiology , achalasia , esophagus
SUMMARY. Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) is the most common type of diverticulum in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Most patients are elderly and present with symptoms of dysphagia. Serious complications include aspiration and malnutrition. The most common treatments are open surgical diverticulectomy with or without cricopharyngeal myotomy and rigid endoscopic myotomy. Recently, cricopharyngeal myotomy using flexible endoscopes has been described as a treatment option for symptomatic ZD. In this article we describe the pathophysiology, clinical presentation and review the techniques and outcome following flexible endoscopic management of Zenker's diverticulum.