Surgical treatment of hypopharyngeal (Aenker's) diverticulum

Twenty-six patients underwent surgical repair of a pharyngoesophageal diverticulum at Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans, from 1957 through 1977. The majority of the patients (22) had a one-stage excision with intraluminal packing of the diverticulum and esophageal closure after excision. Of the 22 patients whose diverticula were treated by this method, 16 reported they were asymptomatic postoperatively, and six stated their symptoms improved. There were three complications: two wound infections and a temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis. During long-term follow-up, recurrent diverticula developed in two patients. The addition of packing to the diverticulum and the resection and closure over Maloney's dilator have proven to be important aids in this surgical approach.