Diagnostic and treatment of Zenker's diverticulum: review of our series pharyngo-esophageal diverticula.
OBJECTIVE
Clinical aspects and preneoplastic potential of Zenker's diverticulum justify its surgery. The clinical signs of the patients and the size of the diverticulum determine the surgical technique.


METHODS
Between January 1974 and December 1995, 32 patients underwent surgery in our department. In order to compare the surgical technique, we divided the patients into 3 groups: group A (cricopharyngeus myotomy: 15 patients (46.9%)), group B (myotomy with diverticulectomy: 15 patients (46.9%)) and group C (myotomy with diverticulopexy: 2 patients (6.7%)). The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis, p < 0.05.


RESULTS
Local or regional anaesthesia was used in 7 patients from group A (46.6%); 5 patients from group B (33.3%) and all the patients from group C (100%). General anaesthesia was used in 8 patients from group A (53.4%), 10 patients from group B (66.7%) and 0 patients from group C (0%). The overall mortality was 0%. The mean postoperative stay in group A was 6 +/- 2 days (3-10 days); in group B was 11.6 +/- 6.4 days (5-25 days) and in group C was 3.5 +/- 0.7 days (3-4 days). The mean postoperative stay in patients with local or regional anaesthesia was 5.3 +/- 1.6 days (3-9 days) and in patients with general anaesthesia, 10.9 +/- 6.1 days (4-25 days). No statistically significant difference was found between the anaesthetic technique and the surgical technique (p = 0.193), between the surgical technique and the mean postoperative stay (p = 0.596) and between the anaesthetic technique and the mean postoperative stay (p = 0.166).


CONCLUSIONS
Cricopharyngeus myotomy is the main surgical technique, however, in diverticula longer than 3 cm of diameter it is mandatory to associate diverticulectomy. Diverticulopexy is indicated in patients of advanced age with a high surgical risk. Local or regional anaesthesia facilitates the identification of the diverticulum intraoperatively and reduce the mean postoperative stay, however, there is no statistical significant difference.
Ochando Cerdàn
F
F
Moreno Gonzalez
E
E
Hernandez Garcia
D
D
Gomez Sanz
R
R
Loinaz Segurola
C
C
Rico Selas
P
P
Abradelo de Usera
M
M
Castellon Pavon
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004947:Esophagus / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D016672:Zenker Diverticulum / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*