Oesophageal Diverticula



Typical Signalment

  • Rare in small animals
  • More common in dogs than cats
  • No important breed or sex predisposition

Description

A circumscribed sacculation of the oesophageal wall. These can be divided into congenital or acquired. Congenital diverticula are due to a herniation of the mucosa through a muscularis defect. Acquired diverticula can be subdivided into:

  1. Traction forms consists of all the oesophageal layers and results from peri-oesophageal inflammation and fibrosis and develop mainly in the cranial and mid-oesophageal body. Sacculations are created by adhesions to adjacent tissues.
  2. Pulsion forms includes the epithelium and connective tissue and results from:
  • an increase in intraluminal oesophageal pressure
  • abnormal local oesophageal motiltiy
  • deep oesophageal inflammation
  • a stenosis interupting normal peristalsis
  • vascular ring abnormalities
  • lodged foreign bodies

Diagnosis

Clinical Signs

usually result from food/fluid impaction in the sacculated area and can present as:

  • regurgitation
  • odynophagia
  • retching
  • postprandial dyspnoea
  • anorexia
  • sepsis if the diverticulum becomes perforated
  • may be subclinical if small

Laboratory Tests

Normal

Diagnostic Imaging

Survey radiography: may show an air/soft tissue density next to or involving the oesophagus

Contrast radiography: will show focal dilation or a partial or complete filling of contrast media in the lumen of the oesophagus.

Endoscopy: will confirm the diagnosis

Treatment

  • Small diverticula - managed by feeding bland soft or liquid diets.
  • Small pulsion diverticula - should be surgically corrected as food impaction may enlarge the diverticula.
  • Larger diverticula - require surgical excision and reconstruction of the wall of the oesophagus.

Prognosis

Fair to guarded due to post-op complications of oesophageal hypomotility and oesophageal stricture formation.

References

Hall, E.J, Simpson, J.W. and Williams, D.A. (2005) BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Gastroenterology (2nd Edition) BSAVA

Merck & Co (2008) The Merck Veterinary Manual