Microendoscopic treatment of the hypopharyngeal diverticulum with the CO2 laser

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The hypopharyngeal (Zenker's) diverticulum is a herniation of mucosa and submucosa on the posterior wall of the pharynx. The only treatment is surgical. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1976 and 1993, 109 patients with a hypopharyngeal diverticulum were operated on at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Kiel, either transcutaneously combined with a cricopharyngeal myotomy (n = 76), or microendoscopically (n = 37) using the CO2 laser. Results and complications of both techniques were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: With both surgical procedures, > 90% of the patients were treated successfully. The rate of postoperative complications was generally low. In comparison to the microendoscopic procedure, serious complications were found to be more frequent in patients treated with the conventional transcutaneous diverticulectomy. CONCLUSION: The laser surgical tissue bridge dissection is a less invasive, quick, relatively safe, and effective procedure requiring only short hospitalisation. Therefore, the laser surgical tissue bridge dissection can be considered as the method of choice for the treatment of the hypopharyngeal diverticulum.