Endoscopic interventions in patients with Zenker’s diverticulum

Abstract

The purpose of the study. Evaluation experience of endoscopic treatment of patients with Zenker’s diverticulum. Material and methods. In 2016-2022 endoscopic interventions for Zenker’s diverticulum were performed in 85 patients (40 - men, 45 - women). The duration of the age ranged from 32 to 86 years. The duration of the disease ranged from 1 months to 25 years. The sizes of the diverticula ranged from 10 to 70 mm. In 31 patients with Zenker’s diverticulum, surgery was performed using a flexible diverticuloscope, 44 patients were operated with a combined method. Results. The intervention time ranged 15 to 100 minutes. There were no complications during operation time. We had 10 adverse events in the postoperative period: hyperthermia, subcutaneous emphysema, partial suture failure with leakage. Patients were discharged from the hospital 3-5 days after the intervention. Repeated interventions were performed in 2 patients more than 1 year after surgery due to recurrence of complaints. During the examination in the postoperative period, no complaints were noted. Conclusion. Endoscopic interventions in the treatment of patients with Zenker’s diverticulum is an effective method of treatment with a minimum length of admitting for patients in the hospital. Important advantages of these operations are the early start of fluid and food intake in the postoperative period, the absence of the need a nasogastric tube insertion. The low invasiveness of operations and the short time of their execution allow the use of these interventions in patients of any age, with any size of the diverticulum, regardless of comorbidities. The absence of a cosmetic defect is an important advantage of endoscopic interventions.