Laparoscopic resection of gastric diverticulum

Gastric diverticulum is a rare disorder. The laparoscopic approach may be ideal for the resection of gastric diverticulum in some cases. The authors believe this to be the first reported case of gastric diverticulum resected laparoscopically. A 59-year-old woman was admitted with indigestion and epigastric pain. Upper gastrointestinal series showed a single diverticulum (3 x 2 cm) on the posterior wall of the upper part of the stomach. The neck of the diverticulum was relatively narrow. Gastroduodenoscopy revealed that food residues were impacted within the diverticular pouch. Other areas of the stomach and the duodenum were normal. Abdominal ultrasonography showed no other pathologic conditions in the upper part of abdomen. On operation, the lesser sac was entered by division of the greater omentum along the avascular plane of the transverse colonic attachment. The location of the diverticulum was confirmed by intraoperative gastroscopy. Using a 5-cannula techniques, the diverticulum was resected with an endoscopic linear stapler device. Pathologic examination of the resected specimen demonstrated chronic superficial gastritis. Flatus was passed out on the first postoperative day, diet was started from the second day, and the patient was discharged on the fifth day without problems.