Esophageal web associated with Zenker's diverticulum: a possible cause of continuing dysphagia after diverticulectomy

A 67-year-old man with upper esophageal dysphagia thought to be caused by a large Zenker's diverticulum was found to have esophageal web at the time of diverticulectomy and cricopharyngeal myotomy. The web was divided by sharp dissection. Untreated, this thin web would almost certainly have resulted in dysphagia postoperatively. The authors therefore recommend routine open diverticulectomy for the management of Zenker's diverticulum, to allow inspection of the esophageal lumen for concomitant disease and palpation of the cricopharyngeal muscle at the time of myotomy.