[Zenker's diverticulum: diverticulopexy versus diverticulectomy].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this retrospective, nonrandomized study was to compare the results of diverticulectomy and diverticulopexy in the treatment of Zenker's diverticulum. Over the 10-year period between 1988 and 1998, surgery for Zenker's diverticulum was performed in 40 patients.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 23 men and 17 women with a mean age of 72 years. Only 39 patients were evaluated. In 19 patients, treatment consisted of cricopharyngeal myotomy and diverticulum suspension; in the other 19 patients, treatment consisted of diverticulectomy in addition to myotomy. Only one patient had a diverticulectomy without myotomy.


RESULTS
There was no mortality and the morbidity rate was low: one fistula, one pneumonia, three cases of transient dysphonia and one hematoma. The results were excellent in 36 patients, and good in 3 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Cricopharyngeal myotomy with diverticulopexy is particularly suitable for geriatric patients. Diverticulectomy is proposed in the case of a diverticulum larger than 6 cm and for young patients to prevent the risk of malignant transformation.
Service de chirurgie générale et digestive, CHU Côte-de-Nacre, 14033 Caen, France.
J
J
Leporrier
E
E
Salamé
M
M
Gignoux
P
P
Ségol
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016672:Zenker Diverticulum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*
D001466:Barium Sulfate