Zenker's diverticulum historical perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ajay Gade MD[2]]

The first description of Zenker’s diverticulum (ZD) dates back to 1769 by Ludlow. It was named in 1877 by German pathologist Friedrich Albert von Zenker. The first description of Zenker’s diverticulum dates back to 1769 by Ludlow. A century later, a German pathologist, Friedrich Albert von Zenker, recognized and further characterized the pathophysiology of this diverticulum. In 1877 Zenker and Ziemssen reviewed literature on the Zenker’s diverticulum. In 1840 Rokitansky first described traction diverticula of the thoracic esophagus. Until 1816 , ZD was thought to be congenital or traumatic in origin. In 1877, von Zeimssen, a professor in Munich, published “Krankheiten des Oesophagus” on the esophageal ulceration and diverticula. Preliminary thoughts on managing pharyngoesophageal diverticula originated as early as 1830, when Bell proposed the establishment of a fistula to empty the diverticulum of its contents.

The history of the Zenker’s diverticulu (ZD) is as follows:^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]}

• It was named in 1877 by German pathologist Friedrich Albert von Zenker.
• The first description of Zenker’s diverticulum dates back to 1769 by Ludlow
• One hundered years later, a German pathologist, Friedrich Albert von Zenker, recognized and further characterized the pathophysiology of this diverticulum.
• In 1877 Zenker and Ziemssen reviewed literature on the Zenker’s diverticulum.
• In 1840 Rokitansky first described traction diverticula of the thoracic esophagus.
• Until 1816 publication,ZD was thought to be congenital or traumatic in origin.
• In 1877, von Zeimssen, professor in Munich, published “Krankheiten des Oesophagus” on the esophageal ulceration and diverticula.
• Preliminary thoughts on managing pharyngoesophageal diverticula originated as early as 1830, when Bell proposed the establishment of a fistula to empty the diverticulum of its contents.
• The first recorded practice of this was by Nicoladoni in Vienna in 1877.
• An unsuccessful attempt at excision of the diverticulum, first suggested by Kluge in 1850, was performed in 1884 by Niehans.
• The first successful resection was by Wheeler in 1885, followed by additional favorable reports of von Bergmann and Kocher in 1892 and Butlin and Billroth in 1893.
• In 1896 Girard devised a method of invaginating the diverticulum into the esophagus, oversewing the resultant dimple.
• This procedure was associated with promising results, although a case of recurrence was reported by Waggett and Davis in a patient after sneez
• Diverticulopexy was first performed by Hill in 1917.
• In 1910 Stetton came up with a list of all patients that suffered from Zenker’s diverticulum along with the procedure performed for treatment.
• These methods included primary excision, excision after preliminary gastrostomy, invagination of the sac, mucosal destruction without excision, and two-stage excision.

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