Understanding Zenker's Diverticulum Treatment: Transoral CO2 Laser Microsurgery

Cureus. 2024 Jan 31;16(1):e53329. doi: 10.7759/cureus.53329. eCollection 2024 Jan.

Abstract

The authors present a case of a 36-year-old woman with a recurrent throat foreign body sensation and persistent dysphagia. On physical examination, a polypoid mass was visible at the postcricoid region, mobile with swallowing. A barium swallowing test confirmed the diagnosis of Zenker's diverticulum. The patient underwent transoral CO2 laser microsurgery for excision of the pharyngeal pouch. At the four-month evaluation, the patient was remarkably asymptomatic and without evidence of recurrence. This clinical case illustrates in detail the endoscopic view of the pre and postoperative aspects of the pharyngeal pouch, showing a step-by-step transoral CO2 laser microsurgery technique, with video.

Keywords: co2 laser; dysphagia; endoscopic surgery; transoral microsurgery; zenker’s diverticulum.

Publication types

  • Case Reports