Transoral settotomy for Zenker diverticulum: long-term outcomes in elderly patients

Material and methods Between 2002-2010, 73 patients (45 males, median age 74 years) underwent transoral stapling. The operation was performed under general anesthesia using a Weerda diverticuloscope and one or more cartridges of linear endostapler. Since 2008, a retention suture (Endostitch) was routinely used to improve traction of the septum inside the stapler jaws. Patients OLDER and YOUNGER than 75 years were compared for perioperative variables and long-term outcomes using Chi-squared test, Student’s t test and Kaplan Meier analysis with log-rank test. Recurrence was defined as a relapse of the symptoms requiring reoperation.