{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,7]],"date-time":"2026-04-07T11:00:13Z","timestamp":1775559613738,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":24,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,7]],"date-time":"2026-04-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1775520000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Zenker\u2019s diverticulum arises from the posterior hypopharyngeal wall through Killian\u2019s dehiscence and predominantly affects older adults. Surgical and endoscopic treatments may be complicated by adverse events, including recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, cervical emphysema, mediastinitis, and pharyngoesophageal fistula formation. Methods: We report the case of a 69-year-old male who underwent open surgical treatment for Zenker\u2019s diverticulum and subsequently developed an upper esophageal fistula complicated by a retroesophageal abscess. Results: The patient was treated using an externally adapted endoluminal vacuum-assisted closure system (EndoVAC), which enabled continuous drainage, local lavage, and progressive closure of the esophageal defect. Conclusions: Endo-VAC therapy represents a safe and minimally invasive therapeutic option for the management of postoperative esophageal fistulas following Zenker\u2019s diverticulum surgery and may reduce the need for extensive esophageal reconstruction.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm15072777","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,7]],"date-time":"2026-04-07T09:40:31Z","timestamp":1775554831000},"page":"2777","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Recurrent Cervical Esophageal Fistula and Retroesophageal Abscess Following Surgical Management of Zenker\u2019s Diverticulum"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7911-0699","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bogdan Mihnea","family":"Ciuntu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, University Street No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-1785-5785","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andreea","family":"Ludusanu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, University Street No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mara Teodora","family":"Zara","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, University Street No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-6083-7822","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mihaela","family":"Corlade-Andrei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, University Street No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Adelina","family":"Tanevski","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, University Street No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Cristinel Ionel","family":"Stan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, University Street No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1485-0543","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dragos Andrei","family":"Chiran","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, University Street No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Dan","family":"Vintila","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, University Street No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-8427-8581","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dan","family":"Andronic","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, University Street No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Gheorghe","family":"Balan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, University Street No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"321","article-title":"Impact of feedback on adenoma detection rate: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"34","author":"Boregowda","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ann. Gastroenterol."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"226","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gie.2022.09.022","article-title":"Outpatient flexible endoscopic diverticulotomy for the management of Zenker\u2019s diverticulum: A large single-center cohort","volume":"97","author":"Schoeman","year":"2023","journal-title":"Gastrointest. 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