Comparing Open Versus Rigid Endoscopic and Flexible Endoscopic Techniques for the Treatment of Zenker's Diverticulum

To describe the outcomes of patients undergoing open stapler versus transoral rigid and flexible endoscopic therapies for symptomatic Zenker's diverticulum.

Single institution retrospective review.

Tertiary care academic hospital.

We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of 424 consecutive patients who underwent Zenker's diverticulotomy via an open stapler, rigid endoscopic CO₂ laser, rigid endoscopic stapler, rigid endoscopic harmonic scalpel, or flexible endoscopic technique from January 2006 to December 2020.

A total of 424 patients (173 females, mean age 73.1 ± 11.2 years) from a single institution were included. A total of 142 patients (33%) underwent endoscopic laser treatment, 33 (8%) underwent endoscopic harmonic scalpel, 92 (22%) underwent endoscopic stapler, 70 (17%) underwent flexible endoscopic, and 87 (20%) underwent open stapler. All open and rigid endoscopic procedures and most of the flexible endoscopic procedures (65%) were performed under general anesthesia. The flexible endoscopic group had a higher percentage of procedure-related perforation, defined as subcutaneous emphysema or contrast leak on imaging (14.3%). The recurrence rates were higher in the harmonic stapler, flexible endoscopic, and endoscopic stapler groups at 18.2%, 17.1%, and 17.4%, respectively, and lower in the open group (1.1%). Length of hospital stay and return to oral intake were similar among groups.

The flexible endoscopic technique was associated with the highest rate of procedure-related perforation, while the endoscopic stapler had the lowest number of procedural complications. Recurrence rates were higher among the harmonic stapler, flexible endoscopic, and endoscopic stapler groups and lower in the endoscopic laser and open groups. Prospective comparative studies with long-term follow-up are needed.