Clinical Gastroenterology Vol.17 No.4(6)

Theme Lesions of Esophagogastric Junction -- Its Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies
Title Epiphrenic Diverticula
Publish Date 2002/04
Author Soji Ozawa Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University
Author Yuko Kitagawa Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University
Author Eiichi Nakamura Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University
Author Yuko Kitagawa Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University
[ Summary ] Epiphrenic diverticulum is of the pulsion type and labeled as pseudodiverticulum. It almost always results in an esophageal motor abnormality, such as discoordination between the distal esophagus and the LES, or a more diffuse abnormality, such as achalasia or diffuse esophageal spasms. Chest pain, regurgitation, acute esophageal obstruction, ozostomia, etc. may be the symptoms of a giant diverticula. It is easily diagnosed with esophagograms and endoscopy. Manometric studies are important to establish the presence of associated motor abnormalities. The treatment consists of diverticulectomy alone or with myotomy and antireflux surgery. Recently, the procedure has been done with minimally invasive thoracoscopic or laparoscoic approaches.
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