Treatment of Zenker's diverticula in the esophagus
Zenker's diverticula are protrusions at the entrance to the oesophagus. They occur more frequently in older people. The pathological changes can lead to considerable difficulty in swallowing and food getting stuck in the throat, or cause food to flow back into the mouth. Diverticulum splitting or endoscopic diverticulotomy is an effective treatment that usually leads to an immediate improvement in symptoms.
During the procedure, the muscular web between the diverticulum and the oesophagus is severed using a flexible endoscope. Compared to surgical removal of the diverticulum, this method is much gentler. The procedure takes around 30 minutes and is performed under inpatient conditions. There is no need for a general anesthetic, which is why the method can also be performed on patients of advanced age. Advice and information on this is provided in the Therapeutic Endoscopy consultation.