Eponyms in the operating room: careers of six European physicians.

Continued on Page 20 Introduction Eponyms enable us to commemorate achievements of individuals in a variety of disciplines. Many are familiar with Newton’s laws, Hofmann rearrangement, Pythagoras’ theorem, and the Gaussian curve. However, eponyms are especially abundant throughout the medical specialties, be it Addison’s disease, Billroth’s procedure, Esmarch’s bandage, Hunter’s canal, or the Shirodkar stitch. Eponyms have been used to describe normal anatomical structures [the ligament of Trietz], congenital malformations [Fallot’s tetralogy], histopathologic techniques [Giemsa staining], histologic structures [islets of Langerhans], clinical findings [Austin-Flint murmur], medical conditions [Graves’ disease], surgical disorders [Spigelian hernia], surgical techniques [McBurney’s incision], classification of clinical findings [Apgar score], and equipment used in the operating room [Buckwalter retractor] or the Intensive Care Unit [Swan Ganz catheter]. One possible explanation for the adoption of some eponyms is that it allows a short description of a technique, procedure, diagnosis, or pharmacological preparation. Although eponyms enrich the By Matthew S. Giuca, M.D. Resident in Anaesthesia Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts and Sukumar P. Desai, M.D. Assistant Professor of Anaesthesia Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts