[Endoscopic treatment of Zenker's diverticulum with soft diverticuloscope: a first Tunisian experience]

Zenker's diverticulum is an acquired hernia from the posterior pharyngeal mucosa developed in the pharyngo-esophageal junction. The gold standard for diagnosis is pharyngo-esophageal barium swallow study. Open surgery with cricopharyngeal myotomy has long been the conventional treatment. Actually, endoscopic treatment is an efficient alternative to resolve the problem with shorter surgery duration and less complication.

We report 3 cases of patients with Zenker's diverticulum treated with endoscopic approach in our department between 2013 and 2014.

There were three men aged 71, 79 and 62 years admitted to our department with symptomatic Zenker's diverticulum. Predominant symptoms were dysphagia and regurgitation. Diverticulotomy with a flexible endoscope was performed for all patients, using argon plasma coagulation in the first case and a needle-knife in the two others. Hemostatic clips were placed at the end of the procedure. There was no complication in the last two cases. Perforation at the left lateral side of the cervical diverticulum was observed in the first patient solved by diet and antibiotics. We performed a pharyngo-esophageal barium swallow study before and after the intervention in all patients showing significant regression of the diverticulum and we observed a complete regression of clinical symptoms.

Treatment with endoscopic approach using a flexible endoscope and a diverticuloscope for good exposure of the diverticulum is a safe procedure offering a rapid improvement of symptoms with a lower risk of complications and a shorter duration of hospitalization compared to surgical treatment.