Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Outcomes in modified transoral resection of diverticula for Zenker’s diverticulum

  • Laryngology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Transoral resection of Zenker’s diverticulum (TORD) was first reported in 2010. We present results for our modified approach to transoral resection (MTORD)—full-thickness cricopharyngeal myectomy, diverticulum sac excision, and suture closure of the pharyngotomy—and evaluate its safety and efficacy compared to endoscopic stapling and open approaches.

Methods

A retrospective study was performed in patients who underwent transoral resection of Zenker’s diverticulum using MTORD, endoscopic stapler-assisted diverticulotomy (ESD), or trancervical diverticulectomy (TCD) from July 2009 to August 2017. Pre-operative evaluation included barium swallow and subjective characterization of swallowing dysfunction using the EAT-10 and Reflux Symptom Index (RSI). Complications, length of hospitalization, recurrence, and revision rates were also evaluated.

Results

Of 92 patients reviewed, 18 underwent MTORD, 45 underwent ESD and 29 underwent TCD. Major complications were only observed in ESD and TCD. Recurrence which required revision surgery was only observed in ESD. EAT-10 and RSI scores significantly improved and RSI scores normalized post-operatively for all approaches in short-term (< 1 year) follow-up.

Conclusions

MTORD is a safe and effective option for complete Zenker’s diverticulectomy. Complication rates are low. To date, no patient has required reoperation, although more cases and longer term follow-up are needed for more complete comparison to ESD and traditional open excision.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chokhavatia S, Alli-Akintade L, Harpaz N, Stern R (2013) Esophageal pathology: a brief guide and atlas. Otolaryngol Clin N Am 46(6):1043–1057

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Westrin KM, Ergun S, Carlsoo B (1996) Zenker’s diverticulum—a historical review and trends in therapy. Acta Otolaryngol 116(3):351–360

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Acar T, Savas R, Kocacelebi K, Ersoz G (2016) Squamous cell carcinoma arising from a Zenker’s diverticulum: contribution of FDG-PET/CT to the diagnosis. Dis Esophagus 29(8):1170–1171

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Mosher HP (1917) Webs and pouches of the oesophagus, their diagnosis and treatment. Surg Gynecol Obstet 25:175–187

    Google Scholar 

  5. Dohlman G, Mattsson O (1960) The endoscopic operation for hypopharyngeal diverticula: a roentgencinematographic study. AMA Arch Otolaryngol 71:744–752

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. van Overbeek JJ (1994) Meditation on the pathogenesis of hypopharyngeal (Zenker’s) diverticulum and a report of endoscopic treatment in 545 patients. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 103 (3):178–185

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Prisman E, Genden EM (2013) Zenker diverticulum. Otolaryngol Clin N Am 46(6):1101–1111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Mortensen M, Schaberg MR, Genden EM, Woo P (2010) Transoral resection of short segment Zenker’s diverticulum and cricopharyngeal myotomy: an alternative minimally invasive approach. Laryngoscope 120(1):17–22

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Peretti G, Piazza C, Del Bon F, Cocco D, De Benedetto L, Mangili S (2010) Endoscopic treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum by carbon dioxide laser. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital 30(1):1–4

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Murer K, Soyka MB, Broglie MA, Huber GF, Stoeckli SJ (2015) Zenker’s diverticulum: outcome of endoscopic surgery is dependent on the intraoperative exposure. Eur Arch Oto-rhino-laryngol 272(1):167–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Bloom JD, Bleier BS, Mirza N, Chalian AA, Thaler ER (2010) Factors predicting endoscopic exposure of Zenker’s diverticulum. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 119(11):736–741

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Johnson CM, Postma GN (2016) Zenker diverticulum—which surgical approach is superior? JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 142 (4):401–403

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Aiolfi A, Scolari F, Saino G, Bonavina L (2015) Current status of minimally invasive endoscopic management for Zenker diverticulum. World J Gastrointest Endosc 7(2):87–93

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Veenker EA, Andersen PE, Cohen JI (2003) Cricopharyngeal spasm and Zenker’s diverticulum. Head Neck 25(8):681–694

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Sasaki CT, Ross DA, Hundal J (2003) Association between Zenker diverticulum and gastroesophageal reflux disease: development of a working hypothesis. Am J Med 115(Suppl 3A):169S–171S

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Ongkasuwan J, Yung KC, Courey MS (2012) Pharyngeal stasis of secretions in patients with Zenker diverticulum. Otolaryngol head Neck Surg 146(3):426–429

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Adam SI, Paskhover B, Sasaki CT (2013) Revision Zenker diverticulum: laser versus stapler outcomes following initial endoscopic failure. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 122(4):247–253

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Verdonck J, Morton RP (2015) Systematic review on treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum. Eur Arch Oto-rhino-laryngol. 272 (11):3095–3107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Yuan Y, Zhao YF, Hu Y, Chen LQ (2013) Surgical treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum. Digest Surg 30(3):207–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Papaspyrou G, Schick B, Papaspyrou S, Wiegand S, Al Kadah B (2016) Laser surgery for Zenker’s diverticulum: European combined study. Eur Arch Oto-rhino-laryngol 273 (1):183–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Koch M, Mantsopoulos K, Velegrakis S, Iro H, Zenk J (2011) Endoscopic laser-assisted diverticulotomy versus open surgical approach in the treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum. Laryngoscope 121(10):2090–2094

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Shahawy S, Janisiewicz AM, Annino D, Shapiro J (2014) A comparative study of outcomes for endoscopic diverticulotomy versus external diverticulectomy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 151(4):646–651

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Rizzetto C, Zaninotto G, Costantini M, Bottin R, Finotti E, Zanatta L, Guirroli E, Ceolin M, Nicoletti L, Ruol A, Ancona E (2008) Zenker’s diverticula: feasibility of a tailored approach based on diverticulum size. J Gastrointest Surg 12:2057–2064 (discussion 2064–2055)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Chang CW, Burkey BB, Netterville JL, Courey MS, Garrett CG, Bayles SW (2004) Carbon dioxide laser endoscopic diverticulotomy versus open diverticulectomy for Zenker’s diverticulum. Laryngoscope 114(3):519–527

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Zaninotto G, Narne S, Costantini M, Molena D, Cutrone C, Portale G, Costantino M, Rizzetto C, Basili U, Ancona E (2003) Tailored approach to Zenker’s diverticula. Surg Endosc 17(1):129–133

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Our grateful appreciation is expressed to Yifei Ma, our consulting statistician, for his kind contributions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    Attapon Junlapan, Sara Abu-Ghanem, C. Kwang Sung & Edward J. Damrose

  2. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand

    Attapon Junlapan

Authors
  1. Attapon Junlapan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sara Abu-Ghanem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. Kwang Sung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Edward J. Damrose
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Edward J. Damrose.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The consent for participation may be required for the study.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (MP4 32564 KB)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Junlapan, A., Abu-Ghanem, S., Sung, C.K. et al. Outcomes in modified transoral resection of diverticula for Zenker’s diverticulum. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 276, 1423–1429 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-019-05374-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-019-05374-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation