Endoscopic stag beetle knife treatment for symptomatic Zenker’s diverticulum

Zenker’s diverticulum is a pulsion diverticulum that develops through Killian’s triangle, an area of weakness of the posterior hypopharynx. The reported prevalence of Zenker’s diverticulum is between 0.01 % and 0.11 %, and it is typically seen in middle-aged and older male patients in their seventh or eighth decade of life [1]. Diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms such as dysphagia, the predominant symptom in 80 % to 90 % of patients. The diagnosis of Zenker’s diverticulum is made on a barium swallow examination. Upper endoscopy is not required to confirm the diagnosis but is recommended to exclude malignancy [2].

Flexible endoscopic treatment, preferred over open surgical treatment, is the first-line therapy for patients with a symptomatic Zenker’s diverticulum of any size [3]. In all, three options are available for treatment: open surgery, rigid endoscopy, and flexible endoscopy. Thanks to flexible endoscopy, many techniques have emerged in recent years, such as Zenker’s diverticulum peroral endoscopic myotomy (Z-POEM). Besides that, some tools have been adapted to perform safe and effective septotomy.

The stag beetle (SB) knife (Sumimoto Bakelite Ltd.) is a scissor-shaped, rotating device with two insulated monopolar blades designed primarily for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Battaglia et al. [4] and Goelder et al. [5] demonstrated that the SB knife is a safe and effective alternative for treating symptomatic Zenker’s diverticulum.

A 69-year-old woman presented with dysphagia. Her symptoms had started 3 years earlier. A barium swallow examination was performed and Zenker’s diverticulum was diagnosed ([Fig. 1]). Zenker’s diverticulotomy was performed with the patient under general anesthesia. We used a 9.8-mm diameter endoscope, an SB knife, a distal attachment cap, a metallic clip (HX-610-135; Olympus, Japan), and a nasoenteral feeding tube.

Fig. 1 Barium study demonstrates a 1.7- × 1.0-cm diverticulum arising from the posterior wall of the upper esophagus.

First, we passed the nasoenteral feeding tube through the esophagus. After grasping the mucosa, we applied a burst of coagulation current before grasping the tissue and dissecting it with Endo Cut Q, effect 3 (Erbe V300 D). We deployed the clip to prevent mucosal dissection and perforation ([Fig. 2]). The procedure was completed without adverse events ([Video 1]). The patient was discharged on the first postoperative day receiving liquids and enteral nutrition. After 7 days, the nasoenteral feeding tube was removed and the patient started a soft diet with no symptoms, and she remains without symptoms until the present date.

Fig. 2 Endoscopic views, left to right: before the procedure; stag beetle (SB) knife grasping the septum; septum division using the SB knife; after septum division.

Video 1 Endoscopic stag beetle knife treatment for symptomatic Zenkerʼs diverticulum: a safe and feasible approach.

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Publication History

Article published online:
19 October 2020

• References

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• 5 Goelder SK, Brueckner J, Messmann H. Endoscopic treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum with the stag beetle knife (sb knife) – feasibility and follow-up. Scand J Gastroenterol 2016; 51: 1155-1158 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27218662