Management of epiphrenic diverticula

Epiphrenic diverticula are very rarely seen and are often associated with achalasia, esophageal body dysmotility, and a high resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the different treatment options for patients with epiphrenic diverticula. Patients with an epiphrenic diverticulum were divided into two treatment groups: surgical and nonsurgical. Retrospective chart review was performed, and a symptom questionnaire was created. There were six patients in the nonsurgical group and 11 patients in the surgical group. The mean follow-up was 26.4 months. Ten patients had a laparoscopic operation performed. One patient was operated on thoracoscopically and had to be converted to a thoracotomy. Two diverticula were inverted with good results. There was one postoperative esophageal leak where no myotomy was added. An empyema developed in another patient at 4 weeks after surgery. One patient, in whom no antireflux procedure was performed, reported postoperative heartburn. Patients in the nonsurgical group had smaller diverticula, were not good candidates for surgery, or were asyrnptomatic. Esophageal diverticula are very rarely seen. Asymptomatic patients may not require therapy. If surgery is performed and the diverticulum is large, it should be removed. The laparoscopic approach is the surgical treatment of choice. A long myotomy and an antireflux procedure should be added to avoid esophageal leakage at the line of repair and gastroesophageal reflux. (C) 2003 The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.