Treatment for symptomatic ZD can be
surgical or endoscopic
. The surgical approach involves an external neck incision with CP myotomy (diverticulotomy), with or without pouch intervention (inversion, diverticulopexy or diverticulectomy).
What kind of doctor treats Zenker’s diverticulum?
If you have any of the symptoms mentioned here, you should be examined by an
ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist
, or otolaryngologist. Your ENT specialist may diagnose your condition using a “barium swallow” study.
Is Zenker’s diverticulum surgery safe?
In recent years, endoscopic repair of Zenker’s diverticulum has
been found to be a viable safe and effective alternative to surgery
and gained widespread acceptance. Endoscopic stapled diverticulotomy is generally the preferred approach, but flexible endoscopy is a valuable option, particularly for high-risk patients.
How long does Zenker’s diverticulum surgery take?
The pouch is opened and connected to the esophagus to allow easier swallowing and prevent accumulation and regurgitation of food. This endoscopic procedure is performed under general anesthesia and may take
20 minutes to 1 hour
depending on anatomic variations within the throat.
Can Zenker’s diverticulum worsen?
If left untreated, symptoms of Zenker’s
diverticulum can worsen over time
.
Can Zenker’s diverticulum be fixed?
More serious cases of Zenker’s diverticulum
require surgery
. Surgery can help with difficulty swallowing, coughing, and aspiration. For large diverticulums, or for those in complicated positions, an open-neck surgery might be the only way to remove the pouch. There are less invasive methods available.
Can you live with Zenker’s diverticulum?
Patients who are treated for Zenker’s diverticulum have
an excellent prognosis
, and most patients become free of any swallowing difficulty. A small number of patients (about 20%) continue to experience some difficulty swallowing, but it does not affect their well-being.
Can you feel a Zenker’s diverticulum?
Zenker’s diverticulum symptoms may include:
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
, often with a feeling of a lump in your throat. Around 90 percent of people experience dysphagia. The reappearance of ingested food (regurgitation) in your mouth when food becomes trapped in the outpouching.
Is Zenker diverticulum precancerous?
Background: Pharyngeal diverticulum or Zenker’s diverticulum carcinoma is
a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis
. Carcinoma arising in a recurrent pharyngeal diverticulum is even rarer, with only 1 such case reported in the English-language literature.
How common is Zenker’s diverticulum?
Zenker’s diverticulum is rare, occurring
in less than 0.01% of the population
. It’s found more often in women than in men, usually those 60 years old or more. This disorder can be associated with hiatal hernias, esophageal spasm, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and, rarely, cancer of the esophagus.
How much does Zenker’s diverticulum surgery cost?
However, the endoscopic procedure required the use of an EndoGIA stapler, which added significantly to the overall costs. The mean operative costs for the endoscopic procedure was
approximately $5178
, which was slightly higher than the mean operative costs for the open procedure at $5113.
How long is Meckel diverticulum surgery?
This procedure is usually an outpatient surgery that takes
between 3 and 4 hours
for the surgeon to perform.
Where is the incision for Zenker’s diverticulum?
An incision is made
on the side of the neck
, allowing the surgeon to access the diverticulum and the CP muscle. After the CP muscle is cut, the diverticulum is removed using a stapling device.
What can I eat with Zenker’s diverticulum?
Mild cases of Zenker’s diverticulum may require little more than changes to how an individual eats, such as
chewing foods
well, drinking a lot of water after meals, and eliminating high-fat, spicy and acidic foods from the diet. Cases that are moderate to severe usually require surgery.
Can Zenker’s diverticulum cause breathing problems?
Zenker’s diverticulum is a rare condition that causes a pouch to form in the lower walls of the throat. The condition can lead to problems with swallowing and cause coughing, choking, and
bad breath
.
What causes a pouch in the throat?
It is believed that
the internal pressure produced by the esophagus to move food into the stomach can herniate the esophageal lining through a weakened wall
, creating a pouch or a diverticulum. There is usually distal end obstruction.
