Microendoscopic Surgery of the Hypopharyngeal Diverticulum Using Electrocoagulation or Carbon Dioxide Laser

Abstract

In 1964 we started to treat hypopharyngeal (Zenker's) diverticula endoscopically, using the procedure described by Dohlman. With the increase in the number of patients (274 patients up until 1982), the technique and the instruments used have improved. This paper describes the technique we have used since 1981, which involves exposure of the tissue bridge between esophagus and diverticulum with the aid of a specially designed scope and subsequent severance of this bridge under microscopic control. In 12 cases the bridge was severed by electrocoagulation, while the CO₂ laser was used for this purpose in another 12 cases. Both techniques have given good results. Essential advantages or disadvantages of either of these methods could not be elicited. We regard the use of an operating microscope as a great improvement.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

van Overbeek

JJM

. The hypopharyngeal diverticulum. Endoscopic treatment and manometry. Assen, The Netherlands: Van Gorcum, 1977.

van Overbeek

JJM

Hoeksema

. Endoscopic treatment of the hypopharyngeal diverticulum: 211 cases. Laryngoscope 1982; 92: 88–91.

Dohlman

. Endoscopic operations for hypopharyngeal diverticula. Proc Fourth Int Congr Otolaryngol London 1949; 715–7.

Dohlman

Mattsson

. The endoscopic operation for hypopharyngeal diverticula. Arch Otolaryngol 1960; 71: 744–52.

van Overbeek

JJM

Hoeksema

. CO₂ laser in laryngotracheal obstructions. Proc Third Int Congr for Laser Surgery Graz 1979; 280–92.

Hoeksema

van Overbeek

JJM

. CO₂ laser microsurgery on the larynx and trachea. In: Koebner

, ed. Lasers in medicine. Chichester: J Wiley & Sons, 1980; 179–90.