[Endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy, an alternative in surgical treatment of Zenker's diverticula].

A total of 84 operations (64 endoscopic myotomies and 20 external procedures) were undertaken in 72 patients with hypopharyngeal diverticulum. Endoscopic myotomy was preferred for patients with a narrow diverticular bar, or a large sack, and for older patients. Postoperative complications were not observed after this procedure, nor after 10 endoscopic reoperations. Transection of the bar relieves the symptoms and can be repeated at any time, even after an external procedure. Following endoscopic myotomy, carried out under local anaesthesia, the patient is immediately mobile again, which is an advantage for postoperative convalescence, particularly in older patients.