Register for Endoscopic Stapled Diverticulotomy Safe and Effective for Treatment
Zenker's DiverticulumOctober 2-9, 2000
(NewsRx.com) -- Endoscopic stapled diverticulotomy is a safe and effective treatment for elderly patients suffering from Zenker's diverticulum, report otolaryngologists in private practice in Indiana.
Zenker's diverticulum is disorder characterized by defects in the upper esophageal wall.
Using a Weerda diverticuloscope to view the common septum between the cervical esophagus and the diverticulum, L.P. Philippsen and colleagues with Muncie Otolaryngology Associates examined 14 elderly hospital patients (11 men) with the disorder.
The septum was subsequently incised and sealed at the edges with an endoscopic stapler ("Endoscopic stapled diverticulotomy: Treatment of choice for Zenker's diverticulum," Laryngoscope, 2000;110(8):1283-1286).
Eleven of the patients successfully underwent the procedure, the researchers reported; two of the remaining three patients had obscured septums and the last had a pouch too small for stapling.
Patients treated with this procedure reported significant improvement in swallowing and regurgitation, and were able to able to consume a soft solid diet within a week. No significant adverse side effects were observed, and patients were usually discharged one day after surgery, according to the report.
"Compared with the traditional open technique, the endoscopic stapled diverticulotomy technique is safe, quick, and effective, and requires a shorter length of stay in the hospital," Philippsen et al. concluded. "Therefore it has become our treatment of choice for elderly, high-risk patients with a large (>2 cm) hypopharyngeal (Zenker's) diverticulum."
The contact person for this report is L.P. Philippsen, Muncie Otolaryngol Associates, 2525 W. University Ave., Suite 501, Muncie, IN 47303 USA.
Key points reported in this study include:
* Endoscopic stapled diverticulotomy is a safe and effective treatment for elderly patients suffering from Zenker's diverticulum, a disorder characterized by herniation of the upper esophagus
* Patients treated with this technique reported significant immediate improvements in swallowing and regurgitation
* No adverse side effects were observed, and patients were often discharged from the hospital the day after surgery
This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports.
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