ZENKERS DIVERTICULUM

Symptomatic Zenker's diverticula are usually treated with diverticulec tomy and myotomy. Other, more conservative open procedures consist of diverticulopexy, imbrication, and myotomy alone. These more conservati ve procedures do not result in a breach of esophageal mucosa and shoul d have more rapid postoperative recovery. We performed a retrospective chart review of all open surgical procedures performed at the Marshfi eld Clinic and St. Joseph's Hospital between 1975 and 1996. Using Wilc oxon's rank sum test, the conservative procedures were compared with t he standard diverticulectomy for duration of hospitalization and lengt h of time to resumption of oral intake. Fifty-nine patients are report ed. Statistically significant differences between the surgery groups w ere found for hospitalization (P < 0.001) and days to resumption of or al intake (P < 0.001). Conservative open surgical procedures for repai r of Zenker's diverticula result in decreased hospitalization and earl ier resumption of oral diet compared with diverticulectomy.