Epiphrenic diverticulum of the lower third of the esophagus is a relatively rare disorder. We present the case of a large, 7.5 cm diameter esophageal epiphrenic diverticulum treated by the laparoscopic approach. Surgery was indicated by the severity of the patient's symptoms and size of the diverticulum. A laparoscopic transhiatal diverticulectomy with a myotomy and Dor fundoplication was carri...

INTRODUCTION Although perforation of the esophagus, in the anterior cervical spine fixation, is well established, cases with delayed onset, especially cases that present pseudodiverticulum, are not common. In addition, management of the perforation in this situation is debated. CASE REPORT Delayed esophageal pseudodiverticulum was managed in two patients with a history of anterior spine fixat...

Persistent mechanical or functional dysphagia is the most common clinical indication for endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), however less common conditions may justify prolonged enteral feeding to avoid malnutrition and prevent aspiration. The authors report the case of a 76 year old man referred to the artificial feeding outpatient clinic presenting dysphagia, malnutrition and several episodes of as...

Purpose: Clinical presentation and surgical results of the esophageal diverticula were analyzed. Methods: Ten patients who underwent esophageal diverticulectomy with myotomy from May 1999 to May 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Three pharyngoesophageal, one midesophageal and six epiphrenic diverticula were observed and transcervical, right transthoracic and left transthoracic surgic...

Fig. 1. Barium swallow depicting an epiphrenic diverticulum. Preoperative manometry revealed significant tertiary contractions with intact primary peristalsis. The lower esophageal sphincter relaxed normally which excluded the diagnosis of achalasia. Fig. 2. Resected diverticular sac demonstrating retained potassium supplementation pills. The patient had undergone a successful diverticulectomy,...

We herein describe the first case of a high elderly patient with severe dysphagia in solids and liquids, caused by a huge epiphrenic diverticulum, who was treated with combined therapy of balloon dilation and botulinum toxin injection. Due to comorbid associated diseases the patient was unsuitable to withstand surgical or laparoscopic intervention. Treatment with botulinum toxin injection at th...

Zenker's diverticulum is a form of esophageal and pharyngeal obstruction located at the Killian-Laimer triangle. It is relatively common in elderly man (seventh or eighth decade of life), and its pathophysiology is not completely understood, albeit theories regarding dysfunction of the upper esophageal sphincter were reported. The main symptoms are dysphagia and odynophagia, but it can complica...

Zenker's diverticulum is a pseudodiverticulum through a muscular defect in the posterior pharyngeal wall at the area between the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscles of the pharynx and the cricopharyngeus muscle. Although endoscopic techniques have made significant progress, the surgical treatment remains the gold standard. There are two main techniques: diverticulectomy (resection of the di...

Zenker's diverticulum is an alimentary tract pouch localized in the area of the upper esophageal sphincter. Treatment procedure complications and coexisting diseases constitute a serious diagnostic and therapeutic problem. Characteristic symptoms and signs facilitate differential diagnosis, simultaneously being real patient maladies. There are many treatment procedures leading to pouch septum r...