Zenker's Diverticulum Endoscopic Treatment Confusion

Having treated many patients with Zenker's Diverticulum using the endoscopic approach, I've had many confused patients ask me how the diverticulum is treated if it is not removed.

For those unfamiliar with this disorder, click here for more information.

The basic concept of treating this rare disorder is that there is a common wall that divides the esophagus from the diverticulum pouch. This common wall is endoscopically divided such that the pouch now becomes the new back wall of the esophagus. So when the patient swallows, food/liquids can no longer get "trapped" causing symptoms.

Still confused? Here are some picture illustrations...

When endoscopically exposed, the pouch is denoted by the arrow.

When looking through the scope placed into the mouth down into the throat, there is a common wall that is between the pouch (blue arrow) and esophagus (green arrow).

Endoscopically, whether using a stapler or laser, this wall is divided down the middle. This picture shown below is when a stapler is used.

Here is the side view before and after common wall division:

After the procedure, any food/liquid substances that are swallowed can't be trapped in the pouch. Therefore, even though nothing is surgically removed, the patient's swallowing symptoms completely disappear.

Hopefully, this explanation helps clear up any confusion of what exactly happens!

New Slideshow of Endoscopic Staple Diverticulostomy for Zenker's Diverticulum

A new slideshow describing a patient's experience from check-in to post-procedure recovery after Endoscopic Staple Diverticulostomy (ESD) has been added to our practice's Zenker's Diverticulum website. A total of 12 slides is shown.

Also new is a webpage comparing the different surgical approaches (ESD vs Endoscopic CO2 Laser vs Open Transcervical) to treat Zenker's Diverticulum.

For those not familiar with this procedure, it is a minimally invasive endoscopic approach used to treat patients with Zenker's Diverticulum. A Zenker's Diverticulum is an abnormal pouch located in the throat that traps food resulting in food regurgitation, swallowing difficulties, and aspiration. The neat thing about the ESD procedure is that it takes less than 45 minutes to perform and patients are allowed to start eating that evening. Furthermore, there are no incisions created in the neck. Everything is done through the mouth.

The alternative operation requires an incision in the neck and patients are in the hospital up to 1 week, not allowed to eat or drink during that time period.