Laparoscopy in the treatment of a giant true epiphrenic diverticulum with migration of the gastrointestinal anastomosis staples

Abstract

Our case is a 62-year-old diabetic man with a long-standing history of regurgitation, halitosis, recurrent chest infection, and most recently upper gastro-intestinal bleeding. He was diagnosed 10 years earlier with an epiphrenic esophageal diverticulum, and also has a family history of this condition. Barium study revealed a 10x10 cm epiphrenic diverticula with a 4 cm neck, the lower margin of the opening lying 6 cm from the gastro-esophageal junction. Endoscopy confirmed the x-ray findings, and motility studies were within normal limits. The patient underwent laparoscopic excision of the diverticulum via the trans-abdominal approach. Histopathological examination revealed this diverticulum to be of the true type.