Zenker’s diverticulum

What is Zenker’s diverticulum?

It is a disease that affects the cricopharyngeal muscle. This muscle is hypertrophied, it does not relax properly during swallowing and a diverticulum or mucous sac is created around it, where food accumulates.

What are the symptoms?

The main symptom is the regurgitation of retained food, bad breath (halitosis), difficulty swallowing or high dysphagia and the passage of food into the respiratory tract, which can cause repeated bronchitis or pneumonia.

How is it diagnosed?

Diagnosis is made by high-quality upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (gastroscopy).

Sometimes it is useful to perform high-resolution manometry, with special probes that allow precise determination of the function of the upper esophageal sphincter.

If you are looking for a second opinion about your endoscopic treatment or have been offered a surgical solution, contact us.

How is it treated?

The most effective treatment is endoscopic diverticulotomy. A variant called Zenker-POEM (Z-POEM), allows the diseased muscle to be selectively treated, avoiding undertreatment and recurrences.

The treatment is carried out through an upper digestive endoscopy, without the need for surgical incisions, in a much less aggressive way.

The Endos Advanced team introduced Z-POEM in our country, is especially dedicated to this technique and has extensive experience in treating complex patients who have not responded to other treatments.