
Esophageal Diverticulum Treatment
- Taking small bites of food and chewing carefully
- Drinking water during and after meals
- Sitting upright while eating your meals
- Eating a diet that is free of oil and spices
What is the best diet for esophageal cancer?
Treatment for esophageal diverticula include a variety of lifestyle changes such as eating habits, hydration, posture, and dietary changes. Learn more.
What is an esophageal diverticulum, and is it dangerous?
Jul 25, 2018 · July 25, 2018. In most cases, Zenker’s diverticula are spontaneous and occur in people over the age of 60. More complicated cases of the pharyngeal pouch, which makes swallowing very difficult, can occur in patients with scarring from surgery or radiation to the neck. Zenker’s has traditionally been treated by open neck surgery to remove the pouch and cut the …
What treatment exists for patients with esophageal pouches?
Objective Esophageal diverticulum is rare, and the concomitance of esophageal motility disorders (EMDs) and the efficacy of novel endoscopic treatment have not been investigated in Japan. Methods An examination including high-resolution manometry (HRM) was performed for patients with both EMDs and epiphrenic diverticulum.
What is the best treatment for an esophageal spasm?
Zenker’s diverticula (pharyngoesophageal) is the most common type of diverticula of the esophagus. Zenker’s diverticula are usually located in the ... Midthoracic diverticula, in the mid-chest. Epiphrenic diverticula, above the diaphragm.

How do you fix esophageal diverticulum?
This involves removing a larger diverticulum by turning it upside down and attaching it to the wall of the esophagus. Diverticulectomy and cricopharyngeal myotomy. This involves removing the diverticulum while performing a cricopharyngeal myotomy. It's a combination that's often used to treat Zenker's diverticula.Jun 5, 2018
What are the current treatment options available for esophageal diverticula?
Surgical options include diverticulectomy with cricopharyngeal myotomy, diverticular suspension (diverticulopexy) with cricopharyngeal myotomy, and cricopharyngeal myotomy alone.Dec 24, 2020
What causes diverticulum of esophagus?
Diverticula can form because of increased pressure inside the esophagus while eating or from increased pressure on the outside when there is inflammation or infection in the chest.
Is esophageal diverticulum cancerous?
Summary. Esophageal diverticula are rare. The association of cancer and diverticula has been described. Some authors adopt a conservative non-surgical approach in selected patients with diverticula whereas others treat the symptoms by diverticulopexy or myotomy only, leaving the diverticulum in situ.Feb 1, 2012
What are the symptoms of esophageal diverticulum?
Symptoms of Esophageal DiverticulaDysphagia (difficulty swallowing)Odynophagia (pain with swallowing)Chest pain.Chronic cough.A feeling of food stuck in the throat.Heartburn.Regurgitation (the return of partially digested food from the stomach to the mouth), especially when bending over or lying down.Bad breath.More items...
What causes Epiphrenic diverticulum?
Increased intraluminal pressure due to the primary esophageal motility disorder is suspected to be the underlying cause for the development of epiphrenic diverticulum, resulting in herniation of the mucosa and submucosa through the muscular layer.
Can diverticula pockets go away?
Once diverticula form, they do not disappear by themselves. Fortunately, most patients with diverticulosis do not have symptoms, and therefore do not need treatment.
How is esophageal diverticulum diagnosed?
The most effective method for diagnosing esophageal diverticula is a barium swallow. As the barium solution moves down the esophagus, it fills the pouches so they can be seen on an X-ray.
Is esophageal stricture life threatening?
Most symptomatic strictures require dilation to fix the problem. Many patients need more than one dilation over time to keep the esophagus wide enough for food to pass through. In rare cases, severe and untreated esophageal strictures can cause perforations (small rips), which can be life-threatening.Nov 27, 2020
Is esophageal diverticulum curable?
How is esophageal diverticulum treated? Cases of esophageal diverticulum that cause minor symptoms can be treated through lifestyle changes, such as eating a bland diet, chewing food thoroughly, and drinking plenty of water after meals.
What is an esophageal pouch?
(Esophageal Diverticula) Esophageal diverticula are abnormal pouches or pockets in the esophagus. Rarely, they cause swallowing difficulties and regurgitation. Rumination is regurgitation with no apparent physical... read more (the spitting up of food without nausea or forceful contractions of abdominal muscles).
What is Epiphrenic diverticulum?
Epiphrenic diverticulum is a rare esophageal disorder occurring as an outpouching of mucosa and submucosa through the muscular layers, within 10 cm above the cardia.Jun 3, 2020
What Is An Esophageal Diverticulum?
An esophageal diverticulum is a pouch that protrudes outward in a weak portion of the esophageal lining. This pocket-like structure can appear anyw...
Who Is Affected by Esophageal Diverticula?
Esophageal diverticula can affect people of all ages, although most cases occur in middle-aged and elderly individuals.Overall, esophageal divertic...
Are Esophageal Diverticula Serious?
Typically, esophageal diverticula are nuisances that enlarge slowly over many years, gradually producing increasing symptoms, such as dysphagia, re...
What Causes Esophageal Diverticula?
While the first case of an esophageal diverticulum was reported nearly 250 years ago, little is still known about this condition. It is believed th...
What Are The Symptoms of Esophageal Diverticula?
The symptoms of esophageal diverticula include: 1. Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing, characterized by a feeling of food caught in the throat) 2. Pu...
How Is Esophageal Diverticulum Diagnosed?
The tests most commonly used to diagnose and evaluate esophageal diverticulum include:Barium swallow: The patient swallows a barium preparation (li...
How Is Esophageal Diverticulum Treated?
Cases of esophageal diverticulum that cause minor symptoms can be treated through lifestyle changes, such as eating a bland diet, chewing food thor...
What Are The Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery to Treat Esophageal Diverticulum?
Laparoscopic approaches, such as endoscopic diverticulotomy, offer patients many benefits, including: 1. Limited number of small scars instead of o...
What Are The Risks of Minimally Invasive Surgery to Treat Esophageal Diverticulum?
The possible complications of minimally invasive surgery include: 1. Damage to the lung, spleen, stomach, esophagus or liver 2. Postoperative infec...
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What is the esophageal diverticulum?
What is an esophageal diverticulum? An esophageal diverticulum is a pouch that protrudes outward in a weak portion of the esophageal lining. This pocket-like structure can appear anywhere in the esophageal lining between the throat and stomach. Esophageal diverticula (pleural of diverticulum) are classified by their location within the esophagus:
What type of surgery is used to remove diverticula?
The type of surgical treatment recommended depends on the size and location of diverticula, and include: Cricopharyngeal myotomy: Used in the removal of small diverticula, this surgical treatment can be completed using an open or trans oral approach.
What is the most common disorder of the esophagus?
Esophageal diverticula are more common in people who have motility disorders of the esophagus, such as achalasia, that cause difficulty in swallowing, regurgitation of food, and, in some people, a spasm-type pain.
Where is the diverticulum located?
Zenker’s diverticula are usually located in the back of the throat, just above the esophagus. Midthoracic diverticula, in the mid-chest.
Can diverticula be caused by food retention?
This is thought to be caused by chronic irritation of the diverticula by prolonged food retention. It is important to note that the fear of cancer is not a reason to surgically treat diverticula.
Can esophageal diverticula be weakened?
It is believed that the internal pressure produced by the esophagus to move food into the stomach can herniate the esophageal lining through a weakened wall, creating a pouch or a diverticulum. There is usually distal end obstruction. Esophageal diverticula are more common in people who have motility disorders of the esophagus, such as achalasia, ...
What Is Esophageal Diverticulum?
A diverticulum is a pouch or sac that bulges out in some of your organs. When you have more than one diverticulum the plural is called diverticula. Diverticula can happen in your esophagus, which is the hollow tube that attaches your mouth to your stomach.
Are There Different Types of Esophageal Diverticulum?
There are a few different esophageal diverticulum types. Some are classified by the section of the esophagus they’re in, some by how they pouch out, and some by the layers of tissue. These include:
What Causes Esophageal Diverticulum?
Esophageal pockets can happen for a few different reasons, though the condition is still not well understood. They can happen with some movement disorders in the esophagus, like achalasia, that causes trouble swallowing, muscle spasms, and regurgitation. Regurgitation happens when you bring swallowed food back up into your mouth.
What Are the Symptoms of Esophageal Diverticulum?
Symptoms of esophageal diverticulum vary from nonexistent to mild to severe. They may worsen over time as the pouches stretch. You might have:
What Are the Treatments for Esophageal Diverticulum?
In most cases, esophageal diverticulum doesn’t require medical treatment. If you don’t have any symptoms or they’re mild, eating and lifestyle changes can help. You can:
What is the esophagus diverticulum?
What is Esophageal Diverticulum? An Esophageal diverticulum which is also regarded as a gastrointestinal disorder forms a pocket or stretched tissue that develops nearby the esophagus and pushes outward through the muscular wall. This kind of a disease is rare or can be hereditary or congenital as well.
How to tell if you have esophageal diverticulum?
There are various kinds of symptoms of esophageal diverticulum that can range from mild to severe cases. This includes. Difficulty in swallowing also known as Dysphagia. Pain during swallowing also known as Odynophagia. Pain in a chest and chronic cough. A feeling that food is stuck in your throat. Sensation of heartburn.
What is the term for the condition where the diverticulum keeps growing?
Pneumonia. Pulmonary aspiration, which involves secretions or foreign matter getting into the trachea. These conditions usually worsen over time as the Diverticulum keeps growing in size. In certain cases, if the esophagus is continually irritated, then there may be greater risks of developing esophageal cancer.
How to repair esophageal lining?
Taking small bites of food and chewing carefully. Drinking water during and after meals. Sitting upright while eating your meals. Eating a diet that is free of oil and spices. If there are worst conditions, then you would need a laparoscopic or esophageal diverticulum surgery to repair the esophageal lining.
Where is the midthoracic diverticulum located?
They are located in the back of the throat above the esophagus. The Midthoracic diverticula are situated in the mid chest. The Epiphrenic diverticula or the lower esophageal diverticulum is located just above the Diaphragm. The diverticulum grows over time, and the symptoms gradually develop or even worse at times and there comes a situation ...
Where is the true esophageal diverticulum located?
The True Esophageal diverticulum is usually divided by their location in the esophagus. These are three types of esophageal diverticula, based on where they form. The Zenker diverticula or the upper esophageal diverticulum are one of the most common kinds of diverticulum that is present in the esophagus. They are located in the back of the throat ...
Can you take medication for esophageal diverticulum?
Esophageal Diverticulum Treatment. When there are no severe symptoms of the esophageal diverticulum or the symptoms are mild, then you would not require any medication. However, changing your lifestyle to a certain extent can help you to take care of yourself. You may try out certain home remedies like.
Overview
The esophagus connects the mouth to the stomach. Esophageal diverticula are weak parts of the esophagus that pouch outward. The types of diverticula include:
Symptoms
This condition often causes no symptoms unless food fills up the pouch. They may include:
Diagnosis
The most effective method for diagnosing esophageal diverticula is a barium swallow. As the barium solution moves down the esophagus, it fills the pouches so they can be seen on an X-ray.
Treatment
This condition is usually not treated unless it is severe. In those cases, the pouches are removed with surgery.
