The Story Retold: The Kocher Manoeuvre.

The Kocher manoeuvre is used for mobilization of the duodenum and head of the pancreas and bears the name of Theodor Kocher, who published it in 1903. We describe the embryology of the duodenum and pancreas, relating it to surgical anatomy applied during the procedure. Finally, we present the key points of the procedure, providing more insights into the anatomical structures that are mainly involved.

A Novel Test, the Sternomental Distance Ratio, Used as a Predictor of Difficult Laryngoscopy in a Normal Population and in Thyroid Tumor Surgery Patients: A Preliminary Study.

Objective: The aim of the present preliminary study was to assess whether the sternomental distance ratio (SMDR) could be suitable as a predictor of difficult laryngoscopy, in both normal surgical patients and patients scheduled to undergo thyroid tumor surgery.

Methods: Two hundred and twenty-one consecutive adult patients (among them 122 patients with presumed normal airways and 33 patients with thyroid tumors), scheduled to undergo elective surgery under general anesthesia, were included in this study. Physical and airway characteristics, SMDR, difficult laryngoscopy (using Cormack-Lehane scale) and any kind of assisted intubation were assessed.

Sternomental Distance Ratio as a Predictor of Difficult Laryngoscopy: A Prospective, Double-Blind Pilot Study.

Background: No single test has shown to be an accurate predictor of difficult laryngoscopy.

Aims: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the ratio of the sternomental distance (SMD) in neutral and full neck extension position SMD ratio (SMDR) as a predictor of difficult laryngoscopy and any need of assisted intubation.

Settings And Design: Prospective, double-blind pilot study.

Anatomic Variations of the Deep Femoral Artery and Its Branches: Clinical Implications on Anterolateral Thigh Harvesting.

The deep femoral artery (DFA) is the largest branch of the common femoral artery (CFA), supplying with its branches, the medial circumflex femoral artery (MCFA) and lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA), the thigh muscles, the hip joint, and the femur. Their anatomical variations have a great impact on both interventional and surgical procedures. The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap, a versatile soft tissue with highly increasing use in reconstructive surgery, is noticeably influenced by this variability.