Evaluation of the different transcervical approaches for Zenker diverticulum

The safety and efficacy of endoscopic approaches for the management of Zenker's diverticulum: a multicentre retrospective study

INTRODUCTION

Minimally invasive endoscopic options are safe and effective alternatives to surgery for the treatment of symptomatic Zenker's diverticulum (ZD). However, there is no consensus on the gold-standard approach. We compared the safety and efficacy of Zenker's peroral endoscopic myotomy (Z-POEM), flexible diverticulotomy (FD), and rigid diverticulotomy (RD) for the management of ZD.

METHODS

Patients undergoing treatment for ZD at three UK tertiary referral centres were identified and analysed between 2013 and 2023. Patient demographics, procedural details, clinical success, and 30-day adverse events (AE) were recorded. The primary outcomes were technical and clinical success defined as a fall in Dakkak and Bennett dysphagia score to ≤ 1 without re-intervention.

RESULTS

There was no difference in baseline characteristics amongst 126 patients undergoing intervention (50 RD, 31 FD, 45 Z-POEM). Technical success for RD, FD, and Z-POEM was 80%, 100%, and 100%, respectively (p < 0.001). Over a mean follow-up of 11.0 months (95% CI 8.2-13.9), clinical success amongst those treated was 85.3% (RD), 74.1% (FD), and 83.7% (Z-POEM; p = 0.48) with recurrence in 17.2% (RD), 20.0% (FD), and 8.3% (Z-POEM; p = 0.50). AEs were equivalent between groups (p = 0.98). During this time, 11 patients underwent surgical myotomy with low clinical success (36.4%) and high morbidity.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic options for the treatment of ZD show equivalent rates of success, but failed RD often led to open myotomy with worse outcomes. Flexible endoscopic modalities are both safe and highly effective treatments that may be considered first-line in experienced centres and should be offered before surgery.

Postoperative Care of Zenker Diverticula: Contemporary Perspective from the Prospective OUtcomes Cricopharyngeaus Hypertonicity (POUCH) Collaborative

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to identify trends in postoperative management of persons undergoing surgery for Zenker diverticula (ZD) by evaluating length of stay (LOS), diet on discharge, and imaging with or without surgical complication.

METHODS

Prospectively enrolled adult patients with cricopharyngeal muscle dysfunction with diverticula undergoing surgery from August 1, 2017 to February 1, 2023 were included. Data were extracted from a multi-institutional REDCap database, summarizing means, medians, percentages, and frequencies. Fisher's exact or chi squared analyses were utilized, as appropriate, to compare subsets of data. Descriptive analysis assessed differences in clinical course and the relationship to postoperative management.

RESULTS

There were 298 patients with a mean (standard deviation) age of 71.8 (11.2) years and 60% male. Endoscopic surgery was performed in 79.5% (237/298) of patients versus 20.5% (61/298) open surgery. Sixty patients (20.1%) received postoperative imaging, with four leaks identified. Complications were identified in 9.4% of cases (n = 29 complications in 28 patients), more commonly in open surgery. Most (81.2%) patients were discharged within 23 h. About half of patients (49%) were discharged from the hospital on a pureed/liquid diet; 36% had been advanced to a soft diet. In patients without complications, LOS was significantly longer following open cases (p = 0.002); postoperative diet was not different between open and endoscopic (p = 0.26).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, most patients are discharged within 23 h without imaging. However, LOS was affected by surgical approach. Postoperative complications are different in endoscopic versus open surgery. Complications with either approach were associated with prolonged LOS, need for imaging, and diet restriction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III Laryngoscope, 134:2678-2683, 2024.

Effectiveness and safety of stag beetle knife (SB knife) in management of Zenker's diverticulum: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Stag Beetle Knife (SB Knife) is increasingly being utilized for Zenker's Diverticulectomy (ZD). Our study assessed the effectiveness and safety of the SB Knife for the management of ZD. Ovid EBM reviews, Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline, ClinicalTrials.gov, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched to identify studies that utilized SB knife for ZD. Pooled proportions (PP) were calculated using the random-effects model. Heterogeneity was evaluated using I2 statistics. A total of 7 studies with 268 patients were included in the final analysis. Dysphagia and regurgitation were the most common clinical symptoms. The mean size of the ZD was 2.8 ± 0.7 cm and 28 (of 148) patients had undergone previous treatments. The PP of technical success was 98% (95% CI: 92.3-99.5; I20) with a mean procedure duration of 26.2 ± 8.3 minutes. The PP of clinical response at first follow-up and relapse after index procedure was 87.9% (95% CI: 81.6-92.3; I219) and 13.5% (95% CI: 9.6-18.6; I22), respectively. At final follow-up, the PP of clinical remission was 96.2% (95% CI: 91-98.4; I230.6) while the PP of procedure failure was 3.6% (95% CI: 1.6-8.1; I20). No severe adverse events (AEs) were noted while using the SB Knife. However, the PP of intraprocedural and postprocedural AEs was 13.2% (95% CI: 9.6-17.8; I20) and 9.3% (95% CI: 5.7-14.9; I2 < 20.9), respectively. SB Knife is highly safe and effective for Zenker's Diverticulectomy with a failure rate of only 3.6%.

[Endoscopic treatment of recurrent Zenker diverticulum and postoperative esophageal stricture]

Zenker diverticulum is a rare disease accounting for 1.5-5% of esophageal diverticula. For a long time, surgical treatment of Zenker pharyngoesophageal diverticula implied open diverticulectomy via cervical approach. However, this intervention is characterized by high postoperative morbidity and recurrence rate. Oral endoscopic minimally invasive cricopharyngoesophagomyotomy has become widespread over the past 10 years. We present a 55-year-old female who underwent endoscopic treatment for recurrent Zenker diverticulum and postoperative esophageal stricture. We obtained favorable result in a patient with recurrent Zenker diverticulum after previous open surgeries complicated by esophageal stricture. Endoscopic management eliminated recurrent diverticulum and esophageal stricture, as well as improved the quality of life. Endoscopic approach is preferable for pharynoesophageal diverticula compared to traditional surgical diverticulectomy. Obvious advantages of this technique are stable functional result, low incidence of complications and mortality, short-term postoperative period with fast rehabilitation. Extended myotomy is essential for successful oral endoscopic cricopharyngoesophagomyotomy.

Feasibility of Early Discharge after Open Hypopharyngeal Surgery for Dysphagia

Objective:

To determine the rate of surgical complications, unplanned readmission, and functional status after open hypopharyngeal surgery for dysphagia with early return to oral diet and hospital discharge.

Methods:

Retrospective chart review of patients who underwent open hypopharyngeal surgery for management of dysphagia from March 2013 to June 2018 at a single academic institution. A clear liquid diet is restarted the day of surgery and is advanced to a soft diet on postoperative day one. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors for postoperative complications and unplanned readmission.

Results:

Ninety patients met eligibility criteria; 62 patients underwent open cricopharyngeal myotomy, 13 underwent Zenker’s diverticulectomy, 15 had a Zenker’s diverticulopexy. Mean inpatient length of stay was 2.0 ± 2.0 days (range 0-11 days); 57 patients (63.3%) were discharged on the same day as surgery or on postoperative day one. Seven patients (7.8%) had postoperative complications; the most common complication was esophageal leak (n = 6). Six patients (6.7%) had unplanned readmissions within 30 days. Mean time to unplanned readmission was 12 days (range 2-19 days). Open diverticulectomy was associated with an increased risk of unplanned readmission with an OR = 7.63 (95% CI 1.29, 45.45, P = .025). At last follow-up, 70% of patients had an increased functional oral intake by at least one scale score (FOIS) after surgery (mean follow-up 0.8 ± 1.1 years, range 0.02-5.1 years).

Conclusion:

An early diet and discharge may be safe for patients undergoing open surgery without a mechanical or suture closure of their esophageal mucosa, whereas in those undergoing diverticulectomy, NPO status and a radiological check before resuming drinking and eating are advised.

Level of Evidence:

4

New and emerging techniques for endoscopic treatment of Zenker's diverticulum: State-of-the-art review

Zenker's diverticulum (ZD), or pharyngeal pouch, is an anatomical defect characterized by herniation of the posterior pharyngeal wall through Killian's dehiscence, and may result in dysphagia and regurgitation. Multiple therapeutic modalities including surgery, rigid and flexible endoscopy have been developed to manage ZD. Although surgical management with open and endoscopically assisted techniques have historically been the mainstay of ZD treatment, minimally invasive flexible endoscopic techniques, carried out under conscious sedation, are increasingly favored. Over the last two decades, the advent of new accessories and techniques have changed the landscape of endotherapy for ZD, with the current armamentarium including, but not limited to, endoscopic stapling, CO₂ laser, argon plasma coagulation, needle knife, bipolar forceps, hook knife, clutch cutter, stag beetle knife, and submucosal tunneling endoscopic septum division. We hereby review the latest evidence to support the endoscopic management of ZD.

[Pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of Zenker's diverticulum]

Zenker's diverticulum occurs at the dorsal pharyngoesophageal junction through Killian's dehiscence and is caused by increased intrabolus pressure. Symptomatic disease most frequently affects male elderly patients. Primary symptom is oropharyngeal dysphagia, as well as regurgitation of undigested food, halitosis, and chronic aspiration. A barium swallow study is performed to confirm diagnosis. Treatment options for symptomatic patients include open surgery, as well as transoral rigid or flexible endoscopic procedures. Transoral procedures have become the main treatment approach over the past year thanks to reduced intraoperative complication rates compared to open surgery. The septum dividing the diverticulum from the esophagus is most commonly divided by a stapler device, papillotome, or laser. For high-risk patients who are poor candidates for general anesthesia, the procedure can be performed via flexible endoscopy in awake patients, albeit at an increased risk of recurrence.

Esophageal surgery in minimally invasive era

The widespread popularity of new surgical technologies such as laparoscopy, thoracoscopy and robotics has led many surgeons to treat esophageal diseases with these methods. The expected benefits of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) mainly include reductions of postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and pain and better cosmetic results. All of these benefits could potentially be of great interest when dealing with the esophagus due to the potentially severe complications that can occur after conventional surgery. Moreover, robotic platforms are expected to reduce many of the difficulties encountered during advanced laparoscopic and thoracoscopic procedures such as anastomotic reconstructions, accurate lymphadenectomies, and vascular sutures. Almost all esophageal diseases are approachable in a minimally invasive way, including diverticula, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, achalasia, perforations and cancer. Nevertheless, while the limits of MIS for benign esophageal diseases are mainly technical issues and costs, oncologic outcomes remain the cornerstone of any procedure to cure malignancies, for which the long-term results are critical. Furthermore, many of the minimally invasive esophageal operations should be compared to pharmacologic interventions and advanced pure endoscopic procedures; such a comparison requires a difficult literature analysis and leads to some confounding results of clinical trials. This review aims to examine the evidence for the use of MIS in both malignancies and more common benign disease of the esophagus, with a particular emphasis on future developments and ongoing areas of research.

Utility of transcervical management of Zenker's diverticulum

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate our results in treating Zenker's diverticulum via the transcervical approach, and to compare our experiences with a recent systematic review of both open and endoscopic approaches to the pharyngeal pouch.

METHOD

An audit yielded 41 consecutive cases of Zenker's diverticulum treated between 2003 and 2013.

RESULTS

All 41 patients underwent transcervical cricopharyngeal myotomy; 29 sacs also required 'inversion'. The median and mean length of hospital stay was 1 night and 2.5 nights respectively. The recurrence rate was 2.4 per cent and the complication rate was 9.8 per cent.

CONCLUSION

When compared to reported endoscopic techniques, transcervical cricopharyngeal myotomy (with or without inversion) in our unit resulted in: shorter hospital stay, a comparable complication rate and fewer recurrences.

Pharyngeal pouch management: an historical review

BACKGROUND

Management of the pharyngeal pouch has evolved enormously since the first description by Ludlow in 1764 and the first case series by Zenker and Von Ziemssen in 1877. With the introduction of antibiotics, and the advancement of surgical technique with the advent of endoscopic surgery and lasers, current management is vastly different to that in the nineteenth century.

OBJECTIVES

This paper traces the history of pharyngeal pouch management, and discusses the various treatment options and opinions recorded during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, comparing these with techniques popular today.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Pharyngeal pouch surgery has been associated with significant morbidity, both because of the elderly age of patients typically affected by the condition and because of the surgery itself and potential post-operative complications encountered. The historical development of pharyngeal pouch management and the understanding of pharyngeal pouch pathophysiology are discussed.

Zenker's Diverticulum

Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) is an outpouching of tissue through the Killian triangle that is believed to be caused by dysfunction of the cricopharyngeal muscle. ZD is a relatively uncommon disorder occurring in the elderly. The predominant symptom of ZD is dysphagia, and the most serious consequence is pulmonary aspiration. Videofluoroscopy confirms the diagnosis. Therapy of symptomatic ZD has evolved from an open surgical approach to less invasive transoral endoscopic techniques. Transoral endoscopic therapy using rigid instruments is performed primarily by otorhinolaryngologists, whereas transoral therapy using flexible endoscopes is performed by surgical endoscopists and gastroenterologists. The common goal of all modalities is severing of the septum between the esophageal lumen and the diverticulum containing the cricopharyngeal muscle. Although flexible endoscopic therapy was described nearly 20 years ago, it has experienced a recent resurgence paralleling the advancements of therapeutic endoscopy in other areas, such as endoscopic submucosal dissection. Direct head-to-head comparisons of rigid and flexible endoscopic therapy are lacking, and each approach has variations in techniques as well as advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we review the pathophysiology and management of patients with ZD with an emphasis on flexible endoscopic therapy.

Dysphagia characteristics in Zenker's diverticulum

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate dysphagia characteristics in patients with Zenker's diverticulum (ZD).

STUDY DESIGN

Case series with chart review.

SETTING

Outpatient tertiary care dysphagia clinic.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

All ZD cases surgically treated over a 6-year period were identified and reviewed for dysphagia history and dysphagia characteristics on initial presentation using fiber-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). Dysphagia symptoms and swallowing abnormalities were compared across groups based on diverticulum size (small <1 cm, medium 1-3 cm, and large >3 cm).

RESULTS

Forty-six patients underwent a total of 52 procedures during the study period. ZD size was available in 49 cases (6 small, 26 medium, 17 large). Regurgitation symptoms were less frequent in patients with small (17%) compared with medium (68%) or large diverticula (76%; P = .03). Postswallow hypopharyngeal reflux (PSHR) was less frequent in patients with small (17%) compared with medium (91%) and large diverticula (87%; P < .01). PSHR was present on all FEES available for patients who presented with a recurrent or residual ZD (n = 7). In all cases, PSHR resolved after successful treatment of ZD. Pharyngeal residue indicating possible weakness was present in 24% of all patients at initial presentation.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative assessment of dysphagia characteristics in ZD patients reveals that PSHR is predictive of a ZD larger than 1 cm and may be useful in surgical planning. PSHR is also helpful in identifying patients with recurrent or residual symptomatic ZD following surgical treatment. Pharyngeal weakness is present in a subset of ZD patients.