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A Tailored Approach to the Surgical Treatment of Zenker’s Diverticula

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Abstract

The advent of endoscopic techniques has transformed the surgical therapy of Zenker’s diverticula. Although the treatment paradigm has shifted to minimally invasive approaches with endoscopic stapling-assisted or laser-assisted repair, traditional transcervical procedures can still play a role in selected cases. The goal of this article is to illustrate our tailored approach to patients with Zenker’s diverticula and illustrate our open surgical and endoscopic techniques. The discussion will also include the evidence-based rationale for our preoperative assessment and choice of technique.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Claudia Grosz, CMI, for her assistance with the medical illustrations and Dr. Pieter Noordzij for his assistance with the photos.

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Boston University Medical Center and Boston VA Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA

    Vishnu R. Kannabiran & John Gooey

  2. Department of Surgery, Boston VA Healthcare System, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 1400 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, Boston, MA, 02132, USA

    P. Marco Fisichella

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  1. Vishnu R. Kannabiran
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  2. John Gooey
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  3. P. Marco Fisichella
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Correspondence to P. Marco Fisichella.

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Kannabiran, V.R., Gooey, J. & Fisichella, P.M. A Tailored Approach to the Surgical Treatment of Zenker’s Diverticula. J Gastrointest Surg 19, 949–954 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-015-2774-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-015-2774-7

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