title: Endoscopic carbon dioxide laser diverticulostomy versus endoscopic staple-assisted diverticulostomy to treat Zenker's diverticulum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The 2 most frequently used endoscopic methods to treat Zenker's diverticulum are staple-assisted and CO(2) laser esophagodiverticulostomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study centered around a retrospective evaluation of 107 patients with Zenker's diverticulum who were treated endoscopically by CO(2) laser (n = 72) or staple-assisted diverticulostomy (n = 35).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in the staple-assisted group had a shorter duration of postoperative hospitalization, attributed to earlier oral intake, than patients in the CO(2) laser group. There were no serious postoperative complications in either group. Postoperative fever and emphysema in the neck or mediastinum occurred more frequently in the CO(2) laser group, but this did not lead to any complications. Most patients reported partial or complete relief of their symptoms and there was no significant difference in the number of reoperations between the 2 treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Zenker's diverticulum was treated safely and effectively by the 2 endoscopic techniques, but the staple-assisted method seemed to be the most favorable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. v.verhaegen@kno.umcn.nl
authors.forename: Veronique J O
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Verhaegen
authors.forename: Ton
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Feuth
authors.forename: Frank J A
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: van den Hoogen
authors.forename: Henri A M
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Marres
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Takes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004646:Emphysema / Q000209:etiology; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017792:Surgical Stapling / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016672:Zenker Diverticulum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*