Innovative Surgery Treatment for Multiple Giant Esophageal Diverticula: a Case Report and Literature Review

Multiple Esophageal diverticulum is a rare condition in thoracic diseases which manifests as respiratory infections, coughing during eating or drinking, hemoptysis, and sometimes fatal complications and seriously affecting the quality of life. Herein, we successfully performed surgery using innovative treatment method, a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) diverticulectomy using a carbon dioxide (CO2) artificial pneumothorax on a patient with multiple giant esophageal diverticula and associated symptoms. The patient, a 59-year-old male, presented to our hospital with an 8-month history of postprandial vomiting and acid reflux. Esophagography and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed multiple giant diverticula in the lower esophagus. After preoperative assessments, including electrocardiography, cardiac ultrasonography, and relevant laboratory tests, were conducted to assess the patient's condition for surgery, the patient underwent CO2 artificial pneumothorax-assisted thoracoscopic diverticulectomy. The patient exhibited a favorable postoperative recovery. Follow-up evaluations conducted at 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year postoperatively revealed no complications, including laryngeal nerve palsy, pneumonia, or anastomotic fistula.