Zenker's diverticulum is a pouch that forms in the throat and can make swallowing difficult. For many people, surgery is the only option, but older adults often face high risks with traditional operations. This case report shares the story of an 85-year-old female who needed treatment for this condition. She underwent Zenker's peroral endoscopic myotomy, or Z-POEM. This technique uses a small camera and tools to cut the muscle causing the problem without a large incision. Her recovery was uneventful. She did not experience bleeding or perforation. She did not need to stop the treatment early. This approach shows the advantages of a less invasive method. It offers a safer path for elderly patients who might struggle with standard surgery. While this is a single case, it highlights a promising option for those with high surgical risks. The procedure demonstrated safety and effectiveness in this specific population.
Z-POEM offers minimally invasive treatment for Zenker's diverticulum in elderly patients with high surgical risksA minimally invasive procedure helped an 85-year-old woman with Zenker's diverticulum
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Key Takeaway
Consider Z-POEM as a minimally invasive option for Zenker's diverticulum in elderly patients with high surgical risks.
This case report details the treatment of an 85-year-old female with Zenker's diverticulum using Zenker's peroral endoscopic myotomy (Z-POEM). The setting and follow-up duration were not reported. The intervention resulted in an uneventful recovery with no complications such as bleeding or perforation. Serious adverse events were not reported, and discontinuations were not reported. Tolerability was described as uneventful recovery. The study involved a single patient, so the sample size was one. Funding or conflicts of interest were not reported. The authors note that Z-POEM demonstrates minimally invasive advantages, safety, and efficacy in treating Zenker's diverticulum, particularly for elderly patients with high surgical risks. This technique represents a promising therapeutic option in this population. The limitations of a single case report include the inability to generalize findings to broader populations or confirm long-term outcomes. Practice relevance is limited by the lack of comparative data and the small sample size inherent to case reports.
What this means for you:
Z-POEM offers a safe, minimally invasive option for elderly patients with Zenker's diverticulum. View Original Abstract ↓
BackgroundZenker's diverticulum (ZD) is a rare esophageal disorder, and traditional surgical interventions are associated with significant trauma and poor tolerance in elderly patients.Case summaryAn 85-year-old female presented with a one-year history of progressive dysphagia, accompanied by regurgitation, coughing, and a 5 kg weight loss. Diagnostic evaluations, including barium esophagography, chest computed tomography (CT), and endoscopy, confirmed an upper esophageal ZD (3 cm in diameter).TreatmentThe patient underwent submucosal tunneling endoscopic septum division (STESD), which is widely standardized in current literature as Zenker's peroral endoscopic myotomy (Z-POEM). Key procedural steps included mucosal incision, submucosal tunneling, complete septum myotomy, and mucosal closure using titanium clips. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, with no complications such as bleeding or perforation.ConclusionZ-POEM demonstrates minimally invasive advantages, safety, and efficacy in treating ZD, particularly for elderly patients with high surgical risks. This technique represents a promising therapeutic option in this population.
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