Surgical management of a cervical esophageal diverticulum in and long-term outcome for a five-month-old cat

A 5-month-old domestic shorthair cat was presented for recurrent regurgitation and hypersalivation after eating, which had been evident since adoption 2 months earlier.

Physical examination was unremarkable. Plain thoracic radiography, positive contrast esophagography, endoscopy, CT, electromyography, and blood analysis were performed. A caudal cervical esophageal diverticulum, likely congenital, was diagnosed.

A diverticulectomy was performed with a surgical stapler while an endoscope was in the esophageal lumen. No intra- or postoperative complications were reported. Postoperative and short-term outcomes were excellent, with resolution of clinical signs and no endoscopic esophageal abnormality 3 months after surgery. The cat remained without clinical signs 8 months after surgery.

An esophageal diverticulum in a cat is rare. The cat of this report had a good outcome following surgical management of a cervical esophageal diverticulum. Surgery is worth considering for similarly affected cats, but additional cases are required to confirm the benefit of surgery versus conservative management.