Iatrogenic Zenker's diverticulum perforation: A conservatively treated case.

Zenker's diverticulum is the most common type of diverticulum in the esophagus. Most patients are elderly. Typical symptoms are regurgitation, dysphagia, halitosis and chronic cough. The most common treatments are open surgical diverticulectomy with cricopharyngeal myotomy or diverticulopexy. Most instances of esophageal perforation are iatrogenic. Rapid diagnosis and therapy provide the best chance for survival. If diagnosed early, cervical esophageal perforations can be treated conservatively if there are no signs of systemic sepsis. In this case report a conservatively treated cervical esophageal diverticulum perforation is presented.