Comparative Outcomes of Flexible Endoscopy, Rigid Endoscopy, and Open Surgery for the Zenker Diverticulum Repair: A Retrospective Matched Cohort Study

In this matched cohort, FE has clinical success comparable with OS and superior to RE for ZD repair, with shorter hospital stays, reduced procedure lengths, and a trend toward fewer AEs. Our matched, multicenter design provides stronger comparative evidence than previous unmatched studies. These findings support FE as a first-line treatment of ZD repair, although prospective studies could further clarify long-term outcomes.