Author:

Abstract:

Zenkers' diverticulum occurs mainly during the third age. Symptoms are related to the esophagus and airways and may be life threatening especially in the presence of other serious comorbidity. In this respect and in particular its frequent association with concommitant gastroesophageal reflux disease should be looked and treated for. Treatment of Zenker's diverticulum can be performed in different ways. The open approach consists of a diverticulectomy or diverticulopexy of the diverticulum combined with an extramucosal myotomy of the cricopharyngeal muscle and proximal striated muscle of the cervical esophagus. The endoscopic approach consists of a cauterisation or carbon dioxide lasering of the cricopharyngeal bar or of a so-called "stapler esophagodiverticulostomy". Nowadays, all these methods have a very low mortality rate, the complication rate being acceptable and mostly minor. Hospital stay is short. As Zenker's diverticulum is a condition of the third age the optimal treatment is the one that offers the best perspective towards a longlasting and completely symptomfree outcome. It appears that diverticulopexy and extramucosal myotomy is offering the best guarantees to acheive this goal.