Even though his personal predisposition to the oncologic surgery, he was interested in the treatment of otorhinolaryngologic tumours, especially in those of larynx, oral cavity and tongue. This is due to the fact that at the time, ORL specialisation didn’t exist as a subject in the university. Only in 1890, thanks to Baccelli’s contribute, Durante decided to use some rooms of Policlinico Umberto I in order to focus better on the study of ORL. On 19 April 1883, he performed the first laryngectomy in Italy, which wasn’t successfully. He then decided to improve the procedure of the time with his new techniques, which will result efficaciously. Durante cared about the individuality of patients, believing that adapting every surgery to the diversity of the single one was the right thing to do. Since he was the only clinic surgeon in Rome, Francesco Durante decided to intensify his professional activity by reaching the aristocratic, political and royal environments. He became the personal doctor of King Umberto I and, subsequently, of the whole Savoia family.
