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Updated: Feb 9, 2026
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Robotic-Assisted Transthoracic Esophageal Diverticulectomy
Bengi Balci1, Gizem Kilinc1, Bülent Calik1
1Department of General Surgery, Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Summary
Robot-assisted surgery offers a feasible transthoracic approach for esophageal diverticulectomy in selected patients with epiphrenic diverticulum. This minimally invasive technique shows promise for treating this rare condition.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Oncology
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
Background:
- Esophageal diverticulum is a rare condition causing dysphagia and regurgitation.
- Surgical intervention is indicated for symptomatic or large diverticula (>3 cm) due to malignancy and aspiration risks.
- Traditional treatments involve open or minimally invasive surgery via transhiatal or transthoracic approaches.
Observation:
- Three patients diagnosed with epiphrenic diverticulum underwent robot-assisted surgery.
- The surgical approach was transthoracic, focusing on esophageal diverticulectomy.
- Diagnostic workup included esophagogastroduodenoscopy, esophageal manometry, and computed tomography.
Findings:
- Robot-assisted esophageal diverticulectomy demonstrated a mean operative time of 211 minutes.
- The procedure was associated with no significant blood loss or intraoperative complications.
- This approach is a feasible option for selected patients.
Implications:
- Robot-assisted surgery provides a viable minimally invasive option for epiphrenic diverticulum treatment.
- This technique expands the surgical armamentarium for managing esophageal diverticula.
- Further research can explore long-term outcomes and patient selection criteria for this approach.
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