Presidential address: Eponyms in biliary tract surgery

Insights into Avicenna's contributions to the science of surgery

An influential Persian scholar of the Islamic Golden Age of Medicine (from the ninth to the twelfth centuries AD), Ibn-e Sina (AD 980-1037), also known by the Latinized name Avicenna, is best remembered for his contributions to various aspects of medicine, particularly surgery. In fact, the art of surgery was a major focus of his attention and practice, and one to which he devoted several chapters of his main medical encyclopedia, Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb (The Canon of Medicine). This article presents a brief review of Avicenna's life, introduce his textbook of medicine, and present his significant contributions to the science of surgery.

Ruggero Oddi: 120 years after the description of the eponymous sphincter: a story to be remembered

This article presents a short account of theories, methods, and experimental data formulated and carried out 120 years ago, by Ruggero Oddi, then a 4th-year student in medicine, about the identification of the common bile duct sphincter. A historical picture emerges which leads us to think that Oddi not only discovered the bile duct sphincter, but also described bile duct dilation after cholecystectomy and performed biliary manometry for the first time. The role of serendipity and the almost unknown contribution of Arturo Marcacci, Oddi's "maestro" are also mentioned.

Eponyms in Radiology of the Digestive Tract: Historical Perspectives and Imaging Appearances

Eponyms are a means of honoring individuals who have made lasting contributions to medicine. Eponyms are frequently encountered in the field of radiology, especially radiology of the digestive tract. However, the use of eponyms may fail to convey a precise meaning or definition and could result in miscommunication. Furthermore, in some instances, more than one individual may have contributed to the discovery or description of a particular structure or disease, whereas in others, an eponym may have been incorrectly applied and then propagated for years thereafter in the medical literature. Still, eponyms are a means of honoring those who have made important discoveries and observations, and familiarity with these terms is important for proper reporting and accurate communication. Moreover, the acquisition of some historical knowledge about the individuals whose names are associated with various structures or diseases helps restore some humanity to the science of medicine.

Wirsung and Santorini: the men behind the ducts

During the 16th and 17th centuries, several important discoveries were accomplished by anatomists whose contribution has enlightened the most important anatomic structures of the pancreas. Following the earliest discoveries, researchers of several medical specialities further investigated the ductal pancreatic system. The accessory pancreatic duct with its minor papilla, the main pancreatic duct and the papilla major along with the confluence of the main pancreatic duct with the bile duct and pancreas divisum, have been the objects of interest of several personalities of the medical history. Eponyms in pancreatic anatomy were given to remember some of them, although anatomical misattributions are frequent and controversial. The aim of the authors was to dedicate a small tribute to the researchers who have written, during the last 500 years, important chapters of the medical history and who dedicated their lives to study the pancreatic ducts and their duodenal endings. Furthermore, a brief outlook was dedicated to the impact of anatomic variations and of embryologic anomalies of the pancreatic ducts in our clinical practice and in our actual understanding of duct-related diseases. The authors are confident that the genial curiosity of few extraordinary personalities of the past and the opportunities provided by modern technology continue to play a major role that may finally add wisdom to decision-making in dealing with duct-related biliopancreatic diseases and safety to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures employed.

Partial cholecystectomy

An alternative to cholecystostomy and standard cholecystectomy for 'difficult' gall bladders has been described previously. The procedure, partial cholecystectomy, involves leaving in situ part or all of the wall of the gall bladder which lies directly in relation to the liver and/or structures in the porta hepatis. Eleven such procedures have been performed over a 5 year period, and the common indication in all was severe inflammation or fibrosis in the region of Calot's triangle. One patient developed a self-limiting postoperative bile leak. One patient has formed bile duct stones and appears to have oriental cholangiohepatitis. In the remainder of the patients, there has been no recurrence of biliary tract symptoms. The procedure is definitive and safe, and may usually be performed when cholecystostomy would have been undertaken.

The acute abdomen and Murphy's signs

The history of the acute abdomen describes a shift from emphasis on prognosis to treatment through correlation of clinical and pathological findings. John B. Murphy was an acclaimed leader of American surgery whose name is associated with several diagnostic maneuvers used in the evaluation of the acute abdomen. These include deep-grip palpation used in examination for suspected biliary disease.