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Esophageal diverticulectomy is surgery to remove a pouch that protrudes from the wall of the swallowing passage. Such a pouch can trap food or contribute to difficulty swallowing and regurgitation. Depending on its location and cause, the surgeon may also cut a tight esophageal muscle to improve swallowing.
read more about esophageal diverticulectomy ...A diverticulum without symptoms may not need treatment. Surgery may be considered when the pouch causes swallowing problems, regurgitation, or other complications. Imaging and tests of swallowing help determine its location and whether an underlying muscle problem also needs treatment.
The surgeon reaches the pouch through an approach suited to its location in the neck or chest. The pouch is removed, and the opening in the swallowing passage is closed. A myotomy may be added when abnormal muscle pressure contributed to the diverticulum.
The care team monitors swallowing and checks for signs that the surgical closure is leaking. Patients receive instructions on when to begin drinking and how to advance their diet. Recovery varies with the location of the pouch and the surgical approach.
Risks include bleeding, infection, and a leak or injury in the swallowing passage. Difficulty swallowing may persist if another disorder also affects esophageal movement. The surgeon may recommend a different procedure based on the type of diverticulum.
No. A pouch that causes no symptoms or complications may only need observation. Treatment depends on its size, location, and effects on swallowing.
No. Diverticulectomy removes the pouch. Endoscopic diverticulotomy divides the wall between a pouch and the swallowing passage without removing the pouch.
A tight or poorly relaxing muscle can increase pressure during swallowing. Cutting that muscle may address a cause of the pouch and improve the passage of food.
A temporary liquid or soft diet may be part of recovery. The surgical team will say when it is safe to advance your diet.
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Esophageal Diverticulum: Symptoms, Types & Treatment. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16977-esophageal-diverticulum. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Esophageal manometric characteristics and outcomes for laparoscopic esophageal diverticulectomy, myotomy, and partial fundoplication for epiphrenic diverticula. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18813978/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Heller myotomy with esophageal diverticulectomy: an operation in need of improvement. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26659233/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Minimally invasive surgical management of mid- to distal esophageal diverticula: a large single-center review. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13248898/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.