How is Zenker’s diverticulum treated?
Surgery is required to effectively treat patients with Zenker’s diverticulum. We use a minimally invasive endoscopic treatment developed at Duke University known as Endoscopic Staple Diverticulostomy. Watch a slideshow. This treatment is safe, effective, and well tolerated. Dr. Chang has published articles in peer-reviewed journals and even wrote a book chapter describing this disorder and its treatments. There are other surgical methods which we do not generally advocate. However, not all patients with Zenker’s Diverticulum are candidates for ESD. If the pouch is too small (< 1.5 cm) than other approaches are better suited including CO2 laser, trans-cervical excision, or transoral excisional approach. We do not offer these other approaches in our office. If you live far away, click here on instructions on how to get treated in our office.
