A Duval forceps is primarily used in surgical settings to grasp and hold delicate internal tissues, such as the bowel, stomach, or lungs, without causing crush injury. Its triangular, fenestrated (windowed) jaws provide a broad, distributed grasping surface for atraumatic handling and retraction of organs during procedures like abdominal surgery. The instrument also functions as a packing tool for wounds and can help in manipulating and securing tissues for deep surgical access. 

Tissue Retraction:

To hold and retract delicate tissues, such as the lungs, stomach, or bowels, to improve the surgical field of view.

Tissue Grasping:

To grasp internal organs with a broad, gentle surface area to prevent trauma.

Wound Packing:

To pack gauze and other dressings into wounds.

Foreign Object Removal:

To help in the removal of foreign objects from a surgical site.

General Surgery:

Widely used in general, abdominal, and gastrointestinal surgeries.