ZENKER'S DIVERTICULOTOMY WITH THE CARBON DIOXIDE LASER: PERIOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT AND LONG-TERM RESULTS

We analyzed 119 files of patients withZenker's diverticulum who were treated with C02 laser systems concerning treatment management, complications, andlong-term results. Although the tissue bridge wasdissected down to the fundus of thediverticulum, opening the mediastinum, mediastinitis wasobserved in noneof the cases. Of the patients followed up for long-term results, 90.3% werecompletely symptom-free, and 5.8%of the patients reported an improvement in general condition. In viewof the low rate of complications andthelowlevel ofmorbidity andbecause of thegoodfunctional results, microendoscopic lasersurgical diverticulotomy can be recommended as suitable therapy, especially as compared to external approaches or even otherendoscopic treatment strate-gies.The main advantage as compared to staple-assisted esophagodiverticulostomy is that no special equipment is needed andthat even smallpouches can be treated successfully. KEY WORDS- diverticulectomy, microendoscopic laser surgery, Zenker's diverticulum