title: Surgical treatment of epiphrenic oesophageal diverticulum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epiphrenic diverticula occur in the lowermost 10 cm of the oesophagus. The main symptoms are dysphagia, regurgitation and pain when swallowing food. The main purpose of the survey was to evaluate the department's results for surgical treatment of this rare and distressing condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the period 2002-2012, eleven patients (nine men) underwent surgery for an oesophageal diverticulum consisting of excision (n = 8), myotomy of the lower oesophageal sphincter and Dor fundoplication (n = 2) or all these procedures (n = 1). Two of them were transferred from other hospitals because of complications. Details of pre-operative symptoms and post-operative complications were retrieved retrospectively from patient records. Ten patients who agreed to take part in a retrospective survey responded to a questionnaire a median of 27.5 months (range of 2-105 months) after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no fatalities as a result of the treatment. Three patients developed leakage after the diverticulum excision, two of whom required reoperation. The patients experienced considerable symptomatic improvement. According to the retrospective survey, eight of the nine patients with pre-operative dysphagia no longer had it. Four of seven with regurgitation, and all five patients who experienced pain in connection with swallowing, experienced post-operative improvement. The patients reported their condition as completely well (n = 5) or improved (n = 5) after the operation. One patient who had undergone reoperation for leakage and oesophageal mediastinal fistula did not consent to further surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients who underwent surgery for epiphrenic oesophageal diverticulum in our department experienced symptomatic improvement after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Det medisinske fakultet Universitetet i Oslo.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hauge
authors.affiliation: Avdeling for gastro- og barnekirurgi Oslo universitetssykehus, Ullevål og Institutt for klinisk medisin Universitetet i Oslo.
authors.forename: Egil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Gastromedisinsk avdeling Oslo universitetssykehus, Ullevål.
authors.forename: Olav
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sandstad
authors.affiliation: Avdeling for gastro- og barnekirurgi Oslo universitetssykehus, Ullevål.
authors.forename: Hans-Olaf
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Johannessen
authors.affiliation: Avdeling for gastro- og barnekirurgi Oslo universitetssykehus, Ullevål.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trondsen
mesh_terms: D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D004936:Diverticulum, Esophageal / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057045:Laryngopharyngeal Reflux / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome