MANOMETRIC STUDY OF THE UPPER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER BEFORE AND AFTER ENDOSCOPIC MANAGEMENT OF ZENKERS DIVERTICULUM

Backgound/Aim: Zenker's diverticulum treatment was done by endoscopic management of the elderly and debilitated patients without general ane sthesia. Materials/Methods: With this technique, the septum between th e diverticulum and the esophageal lumen is sectioned with a diathermic knife. Since the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) is certainly includ ed in the mass sectioned, this accounts for the success of the procedu re. Results: Manometric assessment of the UES was done in 5 patients b efore the endoscopic treatment. The mean, pressure was 54.6 cm H2O and the mean length of 3 cm. A significant (p<0.05) reduction in maximum pressure occurred postoperatively - mean 26.8 cm H2O. There was no sig nificant variation in length of the UES. Conclusion: The maintenance o f this basal pressure may be explained by the preservation of the circ ular muscle structure of the region, with sphincter - like characteris tics.