Description

In Zenker's diverticulum, a bulge or pouch forms in the upper part of the tube that connects the throat and the stomach, called the esophagus. The condition is not common. Connected bands of muscle that you work to pass food from the mouth to the stomach) up the esophagus.

Over time, the curve of Zenker's diverticulum can get bigger. The food, pills, and even of thick mucus can become trapped in the bag instead of going through the esophagus. This can lead to problems with feeding and other complications.

The cause of Zenker's diverticulum is not known. It occurs most often in men over the age of 60 years. Treatment for the symptoms of Zenker's diverticulum is often surgery.

Symptoms

A small Zenker's diverticulum may not have any symptoms. But the lump may grow larger over time. You can catch the food, the snot, and the pills. Symptoms may include:

  • Difficulty swallowing, called dysphagia.
  • The belching.
  • A noise of gurgling in the back of the throat.
  • Cough.
  • The hoarseness.
  • The bad breath.
  • Suffocation.

If the bag is so big, what I can spill into the throat. Then Zenker's diverticulum symptoms may include:

  • Feeling of food stuck in the throat.
  • To cough or spit it out 1 to 2 hours after eating. This is called regurgitation.
  • The respiration of food into the lungs, called aspiration.

Causes

The cause of Zenker's diverticulum is not known. It is not known why the walls of the esophagus change in the form of a lump or bag in the condition.

The cause of Zenker's diverticulum may involve the muscles of the esophagus are not working together. More often, a muscle in the upper part of the esophagus relaxes to allow the food. If that does not happen, the food can get trapped in the esophagus.

If the muscle in the area where the food is trapped is weak, the food can cause the esophagus to bulge and form a bag.

Risk factors

The risk factors of Zenker's diverticulum include:

  • Being older than 60 years.
  • The fact of being a man.
  • Have gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), or a condition in which part of the stomach bulges into the chest, it is called a hiatal hernia.
  • To have a spinal surgery.

Complications

Complications can occur if Zenker's diverticulum is not treated. The bulk of Zenker's diverticulum can be bigger if not treated. Complications of Zenker's diverticulum may include:

  • The lung infection. Breathing in the food, it is called aspiration, can lead to a lung infection. This is called aspiration pneumonia.
  • The loss of weight and not getting enough nutrients, called malnutrition. Difficulty in swallowing can lead to weight loss and malnutrition.

Diagnosis

To diagnose Zenker's diverticulum, a health care professional, often, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, a physical examination and ask about your symptoms.

Tests

The test is most often done to diagnose Zenker's diverticulum is a barium swallow. In this test, a specialist takes a series of x-rays of the digestive tract after swallowing a liquid that coats the walls of the digestive tract. The liquid, called barium sulfate, makes the digestive tract of the easier to see on x-rays.

Treatment

For the treatment of Zenker's diverticulum, surgery or other procedures may be required. Eat soft foods in smaller bites can help with swallowing, if you have mild symptoms of Zenker's diverticulum. Your health care professional may suggest a dietitian to help you learn what to eat.

Types of surgeries or other procedures

The repair of the esophagus with a procedure or surgery is the most common treatment for Zenker's diverticulum that is causing the symptoms. Often, the ear, nose, and throat conditions (ENT) specialists do the procedure or surgery. Often perform the procedure through a tube called an endoscope, which enters the mouth to the esophagus. This is less invasive than open surgery.

Endoscope procedures for the repair of Zenker's diverticulum, sometimes called endoscopic repairs, most of the times lower than that of the surgery times and may have a shorter hospital stay compared with open surgery. They also often have similar results and improve Zenker's diverticulum of the symptoms so that as many people as open surgery. But the people who have been endoscope procedures may have a higher risk of a Zenker's diverticulum of return.

There are two main types of endoscope procedures that are used for the repair of Zenker's diverticulum. Each one of them will take around 1 to 2 hours to make.

  • Rigid endoscope procedure.Before the procedure, give you medicine called general anesthesia to put in a sleeplike state. TheENTspecialist using a rigid endoscope to reach the esophagus. A rigid endoscope, do not bend or twist. TheENTspecialist often uses a laser, or you can use a stapler to widen the opening of the bulge. Sometimes, theENTspecialist you can remove the bag with the laser device. This is called an endoscopic diverticulectomy. Electrocautery is another option, but rarely used with the rigid endoscope procedure.
  • Flexible endoscope procedure. Before this procedure, you may receive a drug that causes a near sleeplike state, called the state of deep sedation or general anesthesia. The flexible endoscope. A surgeon uses an electrical current, called electrocautery, to cut out the lump. The Clips can be used for any bleeding.

Rigid endoscope procedure. Before the procedure, give you medicine called general anesthesia to put in a sleeplike state. The ent specialist uses a rigid endoscope to reach the esophagus. A rigid endoscope, do not bend or twist. The ent specialist is often used a laser, or you can use a stapler to widen the opening of the bulge.

Sometimes, the OTOLARYNGOLOGIST can remove the bag with the laser device. This is called an endoscopic diverticulectomy. Electrocautery is another option, but rarely used with the rigid endoscope procedure.

Repair of Zenker's diverticulum may sometimes be necessary to do an open surgery, sometimes called an open repair. Before the procedure, you will be given general anesthesia. The ent specialist makes a cut, called an incision in the neck to remove the lump.

This surgery is most often takes 2 to 3 hours. People who have this type of surgery often stay in the hospital for one or more days. This surgery relieves the symptoms of the majority of the people.

Possible complications

The possible complications of the surgery for the repair of Zenker's diverticulum may include:

  • Infection.
  • The blood clots.
  • Reactions to the anesthesia.
  • A hole in the esophagus.
  • Dental injuries such as a fractured tooth when the surgery is performed through an endoscope.

Results

Both endoscopic and open surgery facility Zenker's diverticulum symptoms for most people. Endoscope procedures more often inferior to that of the surgery times. Hospital stays are often only one night for endoscopic and open surgery.

Open surgery leaves a small scar in the neck. Open surgery may also have a bit more risk of a hole in the esophagus in comparison with endoscopic techniques. For a large Zenker's diverticulum, open surgery may be the best option for the complete removal of the bag.

If the first procedure does not relieve the symptoms, or if Zenker's diverticulum comes back, you may need another procedure. And if Zenker's diverticulum comes back, often has no symptoms. Researchers to study new ways of fixing the condition.

Preparing for your appointment

If you have difficulty swallowing, or other symptoms of Zenker's diverticulum, make an appointment with your primary healthcare professional. You may be sent to a specialist in diseases of the ear, nose and throat, called an otolaryngologist or ear, nose and throat specialist (OTOLARYNGOLOGIST).

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

When you make the appointment, ask if there is something that you need to do in advance, such as fasting before having a certain test. Make a list of:

  • Your symptoms, including any that seem unrelated to the reason of his appointment, and when they began.
  • Key personal information, including major stresses, recent life changes and family medical history.
  • All medications, vitamins or supplements that you take, including over-dose.
  • Questions to ask your health care professional.

Have a friend or family member, if possible, to help you remember the information that is obtained.

For Zenker's diverticulum, basic questions to ask include:

  • What is likely causing my symptoms?
  • What tests do I need?
  • Is my condition likely to disappear or to be of long duration?
  • What is the best course of action?
  • I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • There are restrictions that must be followed?
  • You should see a specialist?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What websites do you suggest?

Be sure to ask all the questions that you have.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask you questions, such as:

  • The symptoms been continuous or come and go?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?

What you can do in the meantime

If you have difficulty swallowing, try to eat soft foods and take smaller bites.

Symptoms and treatment of Zenker's diverticulum