Transoral endoluminal approach to Zenker's diverticulum using Ligasure™. Early clinical experience.

The development of minimally invasive procedures has rekindled interest in endoluminal techniques for the management of Zenker's diverticulum. Tissue sealers as employed in laparoscopic surgery have not been previously used for Zenker's diverticulum septotomy.Supported by the established safety of linear cutters, bipolar forceps, and ultrasonic scalpels, we have started a procedure using the Ligasure 5™ tissue sealer. Safety and efficacy results in our early clinical experience are shown for a prospective series of 5 consecutive Zenker's diverticulum cases that were perorally managed with tissue sealing.The procedure was quickly and safely performed in the endoscopy room under sedation. Mean number of seals per patient was 2, and mean procedure duration was 33 minutes. No complications developed during or after the procedure, and patients were discharged with immediate dysphagia relief and adequate oral tolerance. No diverticular relapses occurred after a mean follow-up of 21 months (range 18-30). This procedure may be repeated as often as desired with no need for hospital admission. Safety should be prospectively assessed by further studies using a higher number of procedures.

Tratamiento endoluminal transoral del divertículo de Zenker con LigasureTM. Experiencia clínica inicial / Transoral endoluminal approach to Zenker's diverticulum using LigasureTM. Early clinical experience

El desarrollo de los procedimientos mínimamente invasivos ha reavivado el interés por las técnicas endoluminales para el tratamiento del divertículo de Zenker. Los selladores titulares empleados en cirugía laparoscópica no han sido empleados previamente en la septotomía del divertículo de Zenker. Avalados por la seguridad previa del empleo de las cortadoras lineales, de las pinzas bipolares y de los bisturís por ultrasonidos, hemos iniciado dicho procedimiento mediante el empleo del sellador tisular Ligasure 5TM. Se muestran los resultados de seguridad y eficacia en la experiencia clínica inicial de una serie prospectiva de 5 casos consecutivos de divertículo de Zenker tratados por vía peroral con el sellador tisular. El procedimiento se realizó en la sala de endoscopia, con sedación, de manera rápida y segura. La media de sellados por paciente fue de 2 y la duración media del procedimiento de 33 minutos. No se presentaron complicaciones durante el procedimiento ni derivadas del mismo, siendo dados de alta los pacientes con desaparición inmediata de la disfagia y correcta tolerancia oral. Con un seguimiento medio de 21 meses (rango 18-30), no existió recidiva del divertículo en ningún caso. Este procedimiento puede ser repetido tantas veces como se desee y ser realizado sin ingreso hospitalario. La seguridad mostrada deberá ser evaluada prospectivamente en estudios posteriores con mayor número de procedimientos (AU)

The development of minimally invasive procedures has rekindled interest in endoluminal techniques for the management of Zenker’s diverticulum. Tissue sealers as employed in laparoscopic surgery have not been previously used for Zenker’s diverticulum septotomy. Supported by the established safety of linear cutters, bipolar forceps, and ultrasonic scalpels, we have started a procedure using the Ligasure 5TM tissue sealer. Safety and efficacy results in our early clinical experience are shown for a prospective series of 5 consecutive Zenker’s diverticulum cases that were perorally managed with tissue sealing. The procedure was quickly and safely performed in the endoscopy room under sedation. Mean number of seals per patient was 2, and mean procedure duration was 33 minutes. No complications developed during or after the procedure, and patients were discharged with immediate dysphagia relief and adequate oral tolerance. No diverticular relapses occurred after a mean follow-up of 21 months (range 18-30). This procedure may be repeated as often as desired with no need for hospital admission. Safety should be prospectively assessed by further studies using a higher number of procedures (AU)