ABSTRACT

Aspirative pneumonia is typical of subjects with conscience or swallow disorders. Zenker’s diverticulum is a pouch in the posterior wall of the pharynx, where food rests are stored, and whose main symptoms are dysphagia, halitosis and regurgitation. We describe a case of a previously healthy 59 years old woman with sudden hemoptisis. X-Ray showed a condensation in the right lung basis. CT-scan described cavitation in the right inferior lobe and dilation of the esophagus as a casual finding. Esophagogram showed a Zenker´s diverticulum. An aspirative pneumonia secondary to a Zenker´s diverticulum was diagnosticated. The patient recovered uneventfully with antibiotic treatment. Four months later, diverticulectomy with cricopharyngeal miotomy was performed. The patient did not present any other case of pneumonia.

KEYWORDS

Aspirative pneumonia, Zenker´s diverticulum, swallow disorders, broncoaspiration.

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