Experience is presented of 18 patients in whom surgical treatment of esophageal diverticulum included use of an automatic stapling device. Ten diverticula were pharyngoesophageal, three mid-esophageal and five epiphrenic. One-stage diverticulectomy with myotomy was performed in all cases. Postoperative follow-up was 6-66 months. The results were excellent, without early or late complications or recurrence.