title: Laser surgery for Zenker's diverticulum: European combined study.
abstract: Surgical intervention is the gold standard of treatment for Zenker's diverticulum. The aim of this study was to examine the role of laser surgery in a large number of patients with this pathological entity. The data of 91 consecutive patients treated due to Zenker's diverticulum with the aid of CO2 laser in three institutions (Homburg/Saar and Marburg, Germany/Athens, Greece) during the last 10 years were retrospectively analyzed. Parameters examined were sex, age, preoperative symptoms, length of operation and complications, revision surgery necessity and degree of patient satisfaction. All patients had a minimum follow-up of one year. Dysphagia was the most common preoperative symptom (78 %). The most common minor complication was dental injury (6.6 %), but a serious complication in form of emphysema was observed in only two patients (2.2 %). A surgical revision was necessary in 8 (8.8 %) of the treated patients. The majority of treated patients was free of symptoms (86.8 %), or presented mild symptoms (9.9 %) one year after intervention, and only three patients (3.3 %) were dissatisfied. Our study shows that laser treatment of Zenker's diverticulum is an efficient operative technique associated with low complications rates and significant improvement of patients' symptoms in most of the examined cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Centre, Kirrberger Straße, Homburg/Saar, 66421, Germany. g1981papaspyrou@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giorgos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papaspyrou
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Centre, Kirrberger Straße, Homburg/Saar, 66421, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schick
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Spyros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papaspyrou
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiegand
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Centre, Kirrberger Straße, Homburg/Saar, 66421, Germany.
authors.forename: Basel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al Kadah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D054020:Lasers, Gas; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016672:Zenker Diverticulum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Endoscopy; European study; Laser surgery; Zenker’s Diverticulum