Endoscopic Diverticulostomy Research Articles

Zenker divertikülü için endoskopik cerrahi

Zenker’s diverticulum likely limits oral intake and may decrease the quality of life of the patient, leading to serious medical and social problems. Thus, surgical treatment is indicated in all symptomatic patients. In this article, an up-to-date and minimal invasive endoscopic surgical technique in the treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum is presented. We believe that transoral endoscopic diverticulostomy by endostapler is a safe and effective treatment of choice for selected patients with Zenker’s diverticulum.

Divertículo faringoesofagiano: avaliação dos resultados do tratamento

To evaluate the postoperative outcome of patients with pharyngoesophageal diverticulum submitted to surgical and endoscopic treatments. We retrospectively analyzed 36 patients with pharyngo-esophageal diverticulum treated at the Hospital of the Medical School of Botucatu - UNESP. Patients were divided into two groups, depending on the treatment: group 1 (n = 24): diverticulectomy associated myotomy through a left cervicotomy; group 2 (n = 12): endoscopic diverticulostomy with linear stapler. Operative mortality was zero in both groups. Early complications: group 1 - two patients developed cervical fistula and two, hoarseness; group 2 - none. Late complications: group 1 - none; group 2: recurrence of dysphagia in four patients (p = .01). Mean follow-up was 33 months for group 1 and 28 months for group 2. Both procedures were effective in remission of dysphagia. Surgical treatment showed superiority to endoscopy, with resolution of dysphagia with a single procedure. Endoscopic treatment should be reserved for the elderly and those with comorbidities.

Hypopharyngeal diverticulum after cervical spine surgery; The role of endoscopic management

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to assess the role of minimally invasive endoscopic diverticulostomy in patients who develop hypopharyngeal diverticulum after cervical spine surgery/fixation. Materials and methodsThis is a retrospective case series of seven patients who underwent endoscopic management of a symptomatic hypopharyngeal diverticulum. The patients were analyzed for diverticulum size, pre-operative and post-operative dysphagia and regurgitation scores, and complications. The overall success with the endoscopic approach was compared to the prior experience with traditional Zenker's diverticulum. ResultsOf the seven patients with hypopharyngeal diverticulum, four were successfully managed with minimally invasive endoscopic diverticulostomy (57%). These four patients all demonstrated clinically significant improvement in both dysphagia and regurgitation scores at a minimum of 6months postoperatively. Complications were minimal and consisted of one case with postoperative subcutaneous air. There were no cases of fistula, mediastinitis, or nerve injury. ConclusionsMinimally invasive endoscopic diverticulotomy can be successfully applied to patients who develop hypopharyngeal diverticulum after cervical spine surgery/fixation.

Endoscopic diverticulostomy and traditional open diverticulectomy in the treatment of Zenker's diverticulum

Introduction: Zenker's diverticulum, located in the pharyngo-esophageal region, is the most common type of pulsion type diverticulum of the oesophagus. Besides traditional transcervical diverticulum resection and pharyngoesophageal myotomy, endoscopic diverticulostomy is also an accepted treatment option. In our clinical trial we compared advantages and disadvantages of the two methods.

Evaluation of endoscopic harmonic diverticulostomy

The purpose of this study is to review a consecutive series of patients with Zenker's diverticulum who were treated with endoscopic diverticulostomy using either the endoscopic stapler (ENDO GIA 30 Autosuture; Covidien, Dublin, Ireland) or Harmonic Ultrasonic Surgical Instrumentation (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH) to evaluate the safety and optimal application of Harmonic technology to the treatment of patients with Zenker's diverticulum. This is a retrospective review at a tertiary academic hospital with institutional review board approval. All patients undergoing endoscopic repair of Zenker's diverticulum between April 1, 2009 and December 1, 2010 at a single institution were studied. A total of 65 endoscopic diverticulostomies were performed: 24 Harmonic assisted, 41 stapler assisted. Average diverticulum size was 3.46 cm. There were two complications with staple-assisted (pharyngeal leak and recurrence) and six complications with Harmonic-assisted diverticulostomies (two pharyngeal leaks, two chest pains, one recurrence, and one subcutaneous emphysema). There was a statistically significant difference in the complication rates between the staple-assisted (4.88%) and Harmonic-assisted (25%) cohorts (P = .04). There were no complications with diverticula <2 cm. Endoscopic Harmonic esophagodiverticulostomy has been reported for the treatment of Zenker's diverticula. However, our data demonstrate a significantly higher complication rate with use of the Harmonic technology compared to the staple-assisted method (P = .04). Additional evaluations are warranted to validate these findings and before Harmonic diverticulostomy can be recommended as treatment for the majority of cases.

Evaluation of Safety of Endoscopic Harmonic Diverticulostomy

Objective: Review a series of patients with Zenker diverticulum who were treated with endoscopic diverticulostomy using Harmonic Ultrasonic Surgical Instrumentation (Ethicon Endosurgery, Cincinnati, Ohio) in order to evaluate the safety and optimal application of this technology to the treatment of patients with this disorder. Method: Retrospective chart review of patients undergoing endoscopic surgical correction of Zenker diverticulum with Harmonic Ace curved shears between July 1, 2009 and November 1, 2010. Presenting symptoms, size of diverticulum, operative times, length of hospital stay, outcomes, and complications were reviewed. Results: A total of 60 endoscopic diverticulostomies were performed, and 24 were Harmonic-assisted. Eight required hospital stays, with their average stay being 2.13 days (0.7 days for all Harmonic patients). There were 6 complications with Harmonic treatments (25%). Two patients had chest pain with negative work-ups. Two patients had subcutaneous air. One had a documented salivary leak. One patient had diverticulum recurrence. No patients had hemorrhage, mediastinitis, or death. The average diverticulum size was 3.24 cm, and there were no complications with diverticula less than 2 cm. There were two complications with the staple technique (6.45%). Conclusion: Endoscopic staple diverticulostomy is a proven safe treatment for Zenker diverticulum with few limitations. Harmonic instrumentation may be effective with diverticula less than 2 cm. However, based on observed complication rates, additional evaluations are warranted before endoscopic Harmonic diverticulostomy can be recommended as treatment for the majority of cases.

Zenker-Divertikel: Pro Operation

In case of Zenker's diverticulum, treatment is indicated as soon as the diagnosis is established. Therapy should aim at the elimination of dysphagia and the symptoms of food retention and should reliably prevent recurrence. Currently, three different therapeutic approaches are applied: the classical option is open transcervical myotomy and diverticulectomy/diverticulopexy and alternatively stapled diverticulostomy with a linear stapler or flexible endoscopic diverticulostomy is propagated. As compared to the surgical (open) approach, rigid or flexible endotherapy is less invasive. However, endotherapy is not always feasible for all types of Zenker's diverticulum and the recurrence rate is high. Accordingly, open diverticulectomy is recommended in patients with an adequate life expectancy and good general operability.

Oesophageal diverticula

Oesophageal diverticula are rare. They are most commonly seen at the pharyngo-oesophageal junction (Zenker's diverticula) or at the distal oesophagus (epiphrenic diverticula). In both cases they are caused by altered motility which results in abnormal intraluminal pressure and the pushing of the oesophageal mucosa through focal weaknesses of the muscular wall (pulsion diverticula). The established surgical treatment for these diverticula therefore consists of eliminating the functional obstruction causing the disease (myotomy), associated with resection of the diverticulum (diverticulectomy) or its suspension (diverticulopexy). Recently, the spread of minimally invasive surgery has also led the application of such techniques to the treatment of oesophageal diverticula. Endoscopic diverticulostomy with stapler, laser or coagulation, through a rigid or flexible endoscope, has been demonstrated to be a valid treatment for Zenker's diverticula—as an alternative to surgery—especially in high-risk patients. On the other hand, laparoscopic treatment of epiphrenic diverticula has recently been introduced with encouraging results. However, because the disease is rare, more experience is required in order to allow definitive conclusions.