[Results of surgical therapy of cervical diverticulum]

Eighteen patients with a pharyngoesophageal diverticulum were operated on at the University Department of Surgery, Mainz, between September 1985 and July 1990. Results are based on follow-up studies of 15 patients. Three patients were operated upon less than six months ago. All patients underwent excision of the diverticulum and a cricopharyngeal myotomy. The mean age was 69 (49-84) years and the average follow-up interval was 30 (6-52) months. Twelve of the fifteen patients are free of symptoms concerning the esophagus since the operation. Two patients who died 17 resp. 22 months after the operation were also free of symptoms concerning the esophagus. In all 11 patients who had a barium contrast, swallowing was normal and no recurrence was found. The results show excision of the diverticulum combined with a cricopharyngeal myotomy to be an effective method with low risk for the long-term removal of pharyngoesophageal diverticulum.