Pharyngeal pouch: which technique?

Abstract

Background: Pharyngeal pouches have been recognised as a cause of dysphagia for centuries and have been treated in a variety of ways over that time.

Objective: This article aimed to analyse the results of surgery by a variety of techniques, as performed by one surgeon.

Method: A retrospective analysis of a case series was conducted, analysing the variables of patient age, sex, type of surgery, length of hospital stay, leak, recurrence and other complications.

Results: A total of 121 patients were treated by 135 operations. There were no leaks in the group treated by endoscopic stapling and this group also had a significantly shorter hospital stay. As for recurrence, the lowest rate appeared to be in the group treated by excision of the pouch.

Conclusion: The techniques used by the author all still seem to have a role in the management of pharyngeal pouch, with the endoscopic stapling approach associated with a low rate of complications and short hospital stay.

Keywords: Esophagopharyngeal Diverticulum; Zenker's Diverticulum.