[Esophageal diverticula]

Abstract

Esophageal diverticula are classified by location-phrenoesophageal (Zenker's diverticulum-70%), thoracic and mediastinal (10%), and epiphrenic (20%). Almost all esophageal diverticula are acquired pulsion diverticula. The most common symptoms are dysphagia, regurgitation, thoracic pain, and pulmonary manifestations related to aspiration. Barium swallow and upper endoscopy will help to establish the diagnosis while esophageal manometry may reveal underlying dysmotility. Diverticula should not be treated unless they are symptomatic. The treatment of Zenker's diverticulum is surgical and consists of either diverticulectomy or diverticular suspension with a myotomy of the cricopharyngeus muscle via cervical approach. Transoral endoscopic stapled diverticulostomy is a new and simple approach which may become the treatment of choice, particularly in elderly and high-risk patients. Treatment of diverticula of the mid and low esophagus must take into account any motor anomalies or associated lesions. Diverticulectomy with esophageal myotomy and an anti-reflux procedure through a left thoracotomy is the standard approach, but endoscopic approaches seem feasible, particularly for epiphrenic diverticula, and may become the norm in years to come.