Aims of the Clinic of Anasthesiology:

1. To prepare highly qualified specialists in anesthesiology and develop traditional and new teaching methods
2. To improve the quality of health care services through successful implementation of the latest diagnostic and treatment technologies in order to provide more scientific evidence-based medical services.

Objectives of the Clinic of Anaesthesiology:

1. Organise and conduct studies and research;
2. Develop study plans and study programmes as well as subjects and specialisations plans;
3. Compile hardware and software necessary for research and studies;
4. Prepare textbooks, scientific articles, books and other teaching and learning instruments;
5. Ensure that qualifications of regular academic and research staff  comply with new requirements of the university;
6. Ensure quality of anaesthesiology training programmes and its compliance with the European Union and the national quality criteria.
7. Participate in the provision of high quality health care services and in the introduction of new diagnostic and treatment methods.

History

Development of anesthesiology in LSMU:

In 1946, the Department of Surgery (with two sections) was established. Jaržemskas became the head of the Department. Liesytė, nurse of the surgical unit, performed an open mask ether anaesthesia from 1947. During this period, most of the surgeries were performed using the local infiltrative anaesthesia. On 06 May 1955, V. Mikalauskas performed the first finger control endotracheal intubation (without a laryngoscope). On 01 February 1958, the Ministry of Health ordered to establish the position of an anaesthetist in the clinics, and J. Gumauskas became the first anaesthesiologist. He was also the first to use manually assisted ventilation with automatic respirator SP-2. Manually assisted ventilation led to the development of endotracheal anaesthesia. During 1958-1961, urgent and major operations were performed using general anaesthesia with intubation and manually assisted ventilation. Such anaesthetics as ether, N2O, thiopental, and muscle relaxants (diplacine, tubocurarine) were used. In 1962, the Department of Anaesthesiology was established (head of the Department J. Gumauskas) and seven anaesthesiologists worked there. In 1966, the Clinic of Cardiosurgery had the first post-graduate students (Irena Marchertienė, Zenonas Dulevičius) in anaesthesiology (coordinator J. Brėdikis), who contributed to the development of anaesthesiology science. In 1975, the Department of Anaesthesiology - Intensive Care (head prof. A. Lukoševičiūtė  in 1975-1997) was established. In 1997, the Clinics of Anaesthesiology, consisting of Central, Neurosurgery, Obstetrics-Gynaecology and Anaesthesiology Departments, was established. The new anaesthesia and postoperative pain management techniques were gradually introduced in the Clinics of Anaesthesiology and, as a result, the number of performed anaesthesia procedures was steadily increasing.

Currently, the Clinic of Anaesthesiology contains three sections:

• Central Anaesthesiology (head M.Dr. Darius Trepenaitis);
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (head assoc. prof. Kęstutis Rimaitis);
• Neurosurgical Anaesthesiology (head assoc. prof  Diana Bilskienė).

The structure of the Central Department of Anaesthesiology was gradually expanding in order to effectively apply the anaesthetic support before and after surgical intervention. In October 2002, the Pain Treatment division was opened.  In December 2005, the postoperative intensive care unit (with 12 beds in it) was opened. Since December 2005, the structure of the Clinic of Anesthesiology was expanded by the section of anaesthesiology of the Oncology Hospital, Kaunas branch (head Irina Semakina). In 2009, the Clinic of Anaesthesiology employed 73 doctors, anaesthesiologists and resuscitators as well as 122 nurses of anesthesia and intensive care. The administrators – Inga Tamošiūnienė, Aušra Geivelienė and Ingrida Bielskienė – coordinate the work in the clinics.

Studies and research

The Clinic of Anaesthesiology is a training base at LSMU, providing all the study cycles: continuous, postgraduate residency studies, 3rd cycle (doctoral) studies and refresher courses of professional medical qualification.

Students from different courses and various faculties study in our clinics:

• Undergraduate students (the 5th year) from the Faculty of Medicine study anaesthetics (study coordinators assoc. prof. Danguolė-Česlava Rugytė and assoc. prof. Bilskienė Diana)
• 2nd and 4th year students from the Faculty of Nursing study anaesthetics (study coordinators assist. Laima Juozapavičienė and assist. Milda Švagždienė)
• 3rd year students from the Faculty of Dentistry study anaesthesiology and resuscitation (study coordinator assoc. prof. Jūratė Gudaitytė).
• Student Society of Anesthesiology (coordinator assoc. prof. Jūratė Gudaitytė).
• 3rd  year students from the Faculty of Nursing study obstetrics care (coordinator assoc.ptof. Kęstutis Rimaitis)

During the studies, students are introduced to the concept of general anaesthesia, the main modern methods of anaesthesia, pain physiology and pathophysiology as well as pain-relieving drugs in clinical pharmacology. Students, seeking for deeper practical and scientific knowledge of anaesthesiology, can attend the Student Society of Anesthesiology. Approximately from 45 to 48 doctors-residents of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care study in the Clinic. In the Clinic of Anaesthesiology, residents become familiar with basic common and regional anaesthesia techniques and learn how to safely anesthetise patients before they undergo surgery because of various surgical pathologies. During the residency time, residents must independently perform from 450 to 500 different types of anaesthesia. Doctors anaesthesiologists-resuscitators, working in the Clinic of Anaesthesiology, are involved in residents’ trainings.  A. Macas is a coordinator of residents. The lecturers of the Clinic of Anaesthesiology are supervisors of residents.

The Clinic has 8 doctorals students, who do research on:

• Acute burn pain treatment optimisation (doctoral student  Laima Juozapavičienė)
• Preoperative sedation in maxillofacial surgery in children (doctoral student Lina Kalibatienė);
• Post-operative pain relief methods and influence of acute and chronic pain in early knee function after a full knee replacement surgery  (doctoral student Janis Zinkus);
• Use of different concentrations of bupivacaine and levobupivakaino on epidural labor pain relief effectiveness (doctoral student Vilda Baliulienė);
• Biochemical markers and haemodynamic parameters: comparison of predicted outcomes in acute heart failure (doctoral student Linas Pėteris);
• Neonatal and infant brain oxymetry and changes in nerve cell damage markers in perioperative period (doctoral student Ilona Šuškevičienė);
• Circulatory changes in patients on anorectal surgical pathology small doses of local anaesthetic spinal anaesthesia litotomic or jack-knife position (doctoral Jurgita Borodičienė);
• Children after thoracic operations in systemic and regional analgesia technique rating (doctoral student Laura Lukošienė).

Doctors and doctoral students of the Clinic are actively involved in research. They write articles for various scientific journals, give presentations in various international conferences and prepare medical qualification courses.

The Clinic of Anaesthesiology has the following refresher courses for doctors anesthesiologists-resuscitators:

• KMU403 Inhaliation anaesthesia     

• KMU029 Regional anaesthesia    

• KMU030 Urgent anaesthesiology 

• KMU473 The neuromuscular blockade: current clinical practice and perspectives 

• KMU482 Anesthesiology innovations

• KMU483 General anaesthesia innovations

• KMU484 Anaesthetic monitoring news and developments

• KMU485 Selected perioperative medical issues (outgoing) 

• KMU568 The European Society of Anesthesiologists (National Education Committee) courses on neuroanaesthesia, regional anaesthesia and pain medicine 

• KMU569 Inhaled anaesthetic and respiratory support measures and innovation by medical simulation 

• KMU026  Obstetric anaesthesiology 

• KMU027 Attendant  pathology and anaesthesia 

• KMU570 Child anaesthesia and postoperative pain relief 

• KMU623 Difficult airway management using medical simulation 

• KMU616 inhaled anaesthetic and respiratory support measures and innovation by medical simulation. 

• KMU674 The European Society of Anesthesiologists (Educational Committee) Courses on cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Ultrasonography: Fundamentals of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences

In the Clinic of Anaesthesiology, the Lithuanian Regional Center of Committee for European Education in Anaesthesiology is established.  It organises all programmes approved  by  the European Society of Anaesthesiology and contributes to the organisation of the Baltic States Congress. On 26 June 2012, the Simulation Centre of the Clinic of Anaesthesiology  (head Arūnas Gelmanas) was established by the decision of the Senate. The Clinic of Anaesthesiology  cooperates with Queen’s Hospital in London, Ghent University Hospital and Danish Institute for Medical Simulation since 2011-2012. Regarding this cooperation, our doctors and residents have an opportunity to go for a traineeship abroad.

About us

Central Department of Anaesthesiology provides services for nine surgery units (General Surgery, Coloproctology, Paediatric, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, Urology and Brachytherapy, Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery). In addition, the Department also provides anaesthesia services to patients who require services in invasive radiology, radiation oncology, bronchoscopy, endoscopy, MRI and CT scan. In the chronic pain clinic, professionals work together to provide care for individuals with chronic and cancer-related pain. They focus on the early interventional approach to pain management to minimise the development of chronic/disabling pain. There are 48 anaesthesiologists-intensive care doctors, 76 nurses of anaesthesia and intensive care and 10 support staff working in the Department.  Anaesthesia is performed with modern anaesthetics. We also use modern monitoring such as the depth of anaesthesia with entropy, myorelaxation controlled using a muscle stimulator. In our clinic, central regional anaesthesia and peripheral nerve blockade are widely used. Since 2005, the Central  Department of Anaesthesiology opened a postoperative care unit with 21 acute care beds (intensive care RI-1, RII), where anaesthesiology services are provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The postoperative clinic provides an acute pain service including PCA and epidural infusions and symptom relief to post-surgical patients using safe, effective and innovative therapies to ensure the patient’s maximum comfort level.  With expanding surgical profiles,  specialised anaesthesiological methods were in parallel improved in liver and kidney transplantations, tracheal and bronchial, radical reconstructive urological and proctological, joint arthroplasty and microsurgery operations. Over the years, through various anaesthesia techniques, more than 30,000 anaesthesia procedures were performed in infants, children and adults.

Obstetrics-Gynaecology Department of Anesthesiology provides specialised anaesthesiology service (general or regional anaesthesia) for patients with gynaecological diseases and at childbirth. The choice of anaesthesia is an individualised decision for each woman; many cesarean sections are performed under regional anaesthesia, so mothers can be conscious to see their babies immediately after birth.  Epidural analgesia or other modern methods of analgesia are applied during the labor and delivery process. We have Obstetric-Gynaecology Intensive Care unit where patients after gynaecological and cesarean sections are observed, cared for and treated. Treatment of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia or eclampsia is also available.

Neurosurgical anaesthesiology unit provides care for neurosurgical and mixed trauma patients, including management of patients undergoing cerebrovascular surgery, benign and malignant intracranial tumours, stereotactic procedures, spinal surgery, epilepsy surgery, evacuation of cerebral hematomas, complex spinal surgery and others. Doctors of the Department work in 8 surgery rooms and auxiliary rooms.

Doctors of the Department of Neurosurgica' Anaesthesiology apply a variety of general and regional anaesthesia techniques in patients of different age groups, including infants and elderly patients. Many of our doctors in this Department are subspecialty trained in neurological anaesthesiology and provide innovative care to our patients who undergo neurosurgical procedures. In this area, the knowledge of neurological anatomy, cerebral physiology, effects of anaesthetic agents on cerebral pathophysiology, neurological monitoring and management of intracranial hypertension and cerebral edema is needed. Specialised anesthesiological service is ensured 24 hours a day.

Contacts

Head - prof. Rimantas Benetis

Office address: Eivenių g. 2, 50009 Kaunas

Tel.: +370 37 32 63 69, +370 37 32 61 91

Fax.: +370 37 32 69 34

Email: kardiochirurgijos.klinika@kaunoklinikos.lt

rimantas.benetis@kaunoklinikos.lt

About us

The Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery offers training for graduate students, residents and postgraduate trainees devoted to cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, and vascular surgery and cardiac anaesthesia in intensive case integrating clinical care, teaching and research experience. The curriculum comprises the following modules: “Cardiovascular diseases” and “Thoracic pathology, allergology and clinical immunology” that are continuously reviewed and revised to reflect changes that occur in the aforementioned fields. The head of the Department is prof. Rimantas Benetis, a globally renowned aortic and mitral valve repair surgery and coronary bypass surgery expert, who carried out the first heart transplant in Kaunas, the first lung transplant and the first heart-and-lung transplant in the Baltic States. Prof. Benetis is a member of the Postgraduate Studies Committee of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) and European Valve Repair Group (EVRG).

The Department provides qualification raising courses for doctors from all over Lithuania. Since 2007, it welcomes cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons and nurses from the Republic of Kazakhstan and other overseas countries to master-classes organised on specific topics in cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, cardiac anaesthesiology and post-operative care.

The Department has a spacious modern conference hall equipped with modern audio and video facilities and wireless Internet. It seats up to 150 persons and offers live surgery broadcast that brings students and trainees into the operating room for unique science lectures.

The Department annually holds an international aortic and mitral valve repair workshop that attracts cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists from Latvia, Estonia, Ireland, Norway, Belorussia, Kaliningrad, etc. Outstanding invited speakers and surgeons of the EVRG group such as Gebrine El-Khoury (Brussels Saint-Luc University Hospital), Prakash P. Punjabi (London Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial College School of Medicine), Jean-Francois Obadia (Hopital Cardiothoracique et Vasculaire Louis Pradel, Lyon), Rene Pretre  (Das Universitätsspital Lausanne,  Switzerland) and Krishna Khargi (Cardiac Center The Hague-Delft, The Netherlands) share experience and discuss new issues with conference participants face-to-face and during live surgery broadcast from the operating room.

The Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery emphasises the need to provide continuous training to improve patient health through scientific innovation, operative care and exemplary surgical education.

Contacts

History

The roots of the Department of Cardiology go back to the year 1957, when the first hospital unit of cardiology in Lithuania, containing 40 beds, was opened in Kaunas Republican Clinical Hospital on the initiative of the late rector of Kaunas Medical Institute Professor Z. Januškevičius (the first chief of the cardiology unit was Professor A. Lukoševičiūtė). In 1977, the cardiac health care service was transferred to a new building, the project and construction of which were highly contributed by Professor J. Blužas. The Department of Cardiology at Kaunas Medical Academy was established after joining the First Department of Internal Medicine in 1989 (previous heads of the Department were Professors Z. Januškevičius and A. Baubinienė) with the Second Department of Internal Medicine (Head of the Department was Professor P. Šnipas). From 1991 to 2000, the Department of Cardiology was headed by Professor P. Zabiela. Since 2001, the Department has been headed by Professor R. Žaliūnas.

Study

In the Department of Cardiology, problem-based teaching has been started since 2010. A 400-hour module Cardiovascular Diseases and Adrenal Glandular Diseases lasts for 15 weeks. Fourth-year students gain knowledge of incidence, causes, pathogenesis, diagnosis, principles and methods of treatment, and prevention of commonly occurring heart disorders and adrenal glandular diseases, acquire practical skills in self-sufficient patient investigation; they can practice in the following fields: cardiology, cardiac surgery, clinical laboratory diagnostics, clinical biochemistry, radiology, rehabilitation and endocrinology. They have the possibility of extending their knowledge in Cardiology by choosing a 2-week elective course in the 4^th and 6^th academic years (2 credits). Students also obtain experience in research work by participating in the activities of the Section of Cardiology in the Student Scientific Association. Internal medicine residents have a 4-month training in the Department of Cardiology. Their theoretical knowledge is improved during 18 seminars. Their practical and academic skills are evaluated during a course credit test and later during a complex final examination in internal medicine. The training of residents in cardiology lasting 4 years has been provided in the Department since 1993. The cardiology fellowship programme is conducted according to U.E.M.S. and Core Curriculum in Cardiology, as it has been recommended by the European Society of Cardiology. Every year, 3-5 cardiologists accomplish the training and pursue further career at the University Hospital or tertiary health care centres in the Republic of Lithuania. The Department collaborates with the researchers from the Institute of Cardiology working in the Laboratories of Clinical Cardiology, Invasive Cardiology, Clinical Biochemistry and Automation of Cardiac Investigations, as well as with the professionals from the Department of Rehabilitation, and other departments at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. The Department of Cardiology takes part in all the stages of different clinical studies.

Internists have the possibility of continuing medical education in the Department of Cardiology since the autumn semester of 1993, whereas the cardiologists have obtained this possibility since the spring semester. Every year beginning from 1994, about 150 internists and cardiologists get certificates stating that they have completed a course of study in cardiology. Theoretical and practical aspects of cardiology are discussed at monthly conferences of the Kaunas Region Lithuanian Society of Cardiology and during the seminars organised 4 times a year by the Lithuanian Heart Association; professors and researchers of the Department take an active part in preparing educational programmes for these meetings. 

Scientific activities of the Department of Cardiology are directed towards introducing new diagnostic methods, management problems of coronary artery disease, arrhythmias and infective endocardites. Much attention is paid to the evaluation of the efficacy of new antiarrhythmic, anti-ischaemic and thrombolytic drugs. The most significant oral presentations have been made at international symposia in Kaunas and Vilnius as well as abroad in Estonia, Italy, Sweden, France, Germany etc. Clinical trial studies of amlodipine, azimilide, dofetilide, d-sotalol, carvedilol, lanoteplase, peghirudin, losartan, lotrafiban, perindopril, simvastatine, tedisamile, telmisartan, etc. were performed according to the Good Clinical Practice Standards of the European Community. 

The Department cooperates with the Department of Cardiology of Vilnius University Hospital. Joint articles are published in the issues of seminars organised by the Lithuanian Heart Association and in the Lithuanian medical journal Medicina. The specialists of the Department improve their knowledge and clinical skills in Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, France and the USA. 

Research

The main subject of the scientific research carried out in the Department of Cardiology is “Assessment of the clinical value of risk factors, clinical and biochemical markers, changes in functional parameter of the heart, morphological (molecular and cellular) alterations of the myocardium, and correction between variants of genes, in prognostication of the course and outcomes of ischaemic heart disease in patients with acute ischaemic syndrome". In the Department of Cardiology, teachers and scientific researchers take an active part in the realisation of the following joint scientific research projects together with researchers working in the Institute of Cardiology at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, the Department of Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, and researchers in the other departments.

A three-year (2004–2006) project “Development and implementation of the up-to-date teaching aids for cardiac ultrasound research studies” realised in accordance with a 2.5 measure of the single programming document (SPD) priority 2 (of the agreement No ESF/ 2004/2.5.0-03-412), in which the following developed teaching aids have been prepared on the base of digital technologies: a study book “Essentials of Echocardiography”, a textbook “Echocardiography in Clinical Practice” and compact discs – an atlas of echocardiographic images, a teaching digital database of echocardiographic images.

A four-year (2002–2005) project financed by the State and Studies Foundation (SSSF) “Myocardial Remodelling Determinant”

A one-year (2007) project financed by the State and Studies Foundation (SSSF) “Studies of Vascular Stiffness for Diagnosis of Early Pathology”

A one-year (2009) project financedby the State and Studies Foundation (SSSF) “Morphogenesis of Thoracic Aorta Dilative Pathology: investigation of the expression of the renin-angiotensin system, and the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta“.

A two-year (2009–2010) project financed by Kaunas University of Medical Science Foundation “Evaluation of the Rotation Movement of the Heart and Strain of the Walls in Children after Radiofrequency Ablation”

A two-year (09.2010–2011) project financed by the Research Council of Lithuania “Search for New Markers of Myocardial Dysfunction Diagnosis and Prognosis: the Value of the Indicators of Deformation”

A three-year (2012–2014) project financed by the Research Council of Lithuania “Pathology of the Ascending Aorta: Search for Molecular and Biomechanical Markers of Dilatation”

A three-year (2013–06.2015) project financed by the Research Council of Lithuania “Diagnostic Value of the Myocardial Deformation in the Assessment of Haemodynamic Value of the Coronary Artery Stenosis”

Every year, 1-2 doctoral students begin their studies in the Department of Cardiology. Besides, this clinical base is used for doctoral studies by researchers of the Institute of Behavioural Medicine in Palanga and the Department of Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery. Also, clinical resident doctors and students take part in the scientific research work performed by doctoral students. Every year, obligatory scientific research is being performed by 10-12 students in their fifth and sixth year.

Scientific collaboration of the Department of Cardiology

1. A joint Lithuanian, Latvian and Polish project in investigating rare heart diseases "European Network for Orphan Heart Diseases”, financed by the Regional Operational Programme for Malopolska 2007–2013, Priority 8. Interregional cooperation.

2. The registry of the European pregnant women with heart diseases "EUROobservational Research Programme Registry Pregnancy in Patients with Structural Heart Disease", financed by the European Cardiological Society, realised from April 2011.

3. "Heart failure Registry of the EUROobservation Research Programme", financed by the European Cardiological Society, realised from May 2011.

4. International Survey on Acute Coronary Syndromes in Transitional Countries (ISACS-TC), 2010.

Contacts

Main contacts

Department of Cardiology, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
Eivenių Str. 2, Kaunas 50009, Lithuania
Tel. +370 37 32 64 49, fax. +370 37 33 13 95
E-mail: kardiologijos.klinika@kaunoklinikos.lt

Head of the Department of Cardiology: Professor Remigijus Žaliūnas, MD, PhD, Habil. Dr.
Telephone No. +370  37 32 64 49
E-mail: remigijus.zaliunas@kaunoklinikos.lt
Room No. 233

CONTACTS

Bakšytė Giedrė, MD, PhD
Assoc. Professor
Telephone No. +370  37 32 64 62
E-mail: giedre.baksyte@kaunoklinikos.lt

Biesevičienė Monika, MD, PhD
Lecturer (on maternity leave)
E-mail: monika.bieseviciene@lsmuni.lt

Čeponienė Indrė, MD, PhD
Lecturer
Telephone No. +370 37 32 73 07
E-mail: indre.ceponiene@kaunoklinikos.lt

Ereminienė Eglė, MD, PhD
Professor
Telephone No. +370 37 32 61 49
E-mail: egle.ereminiene@lsmuni.lt

Gustienė Olivija, MD, PhD
Professor
Telephone No. +370  37 32 63 83
E-mail: olivija.gustiene@kaunoklinikos.lt

Jankauskienė Loreta, MD, PhD
Assoc. Professor
Telephone No. +370  37 32 6335
E-mail: jankauskiene.loreta@gmail.com

Jankauskienė Edita, MD, PhD
Assoc. Professor
Telephone No. +370 37 32 64 49
E-mail: edita.jankauskiene@lsmuni.lt

Jaruševičius Gediminas, MD, PhD
Professor
Telephone No. +370  37 32 69 04
E-mail: gedijaru@yahoo.com

Jonkaitienė Regina, MD, PhD
Assoc. Professor
Telephone No. +370  37 32 69 76
E-mail: regina.jonkaitiene@lsmuni.lt

Jurkevičius Renaldas, MD, PhD, Habil. Dr.
Professor
Telephone No. +370  37 32 61 80
E-mail: renaldas.jurkevicius@lsmuni.lt

Kavoliūnienė Aušra, MD, PhD
Professor
Telephone No. +370  37 32 69 13
E-mail: ausra.kavoliuniene@lsmuni.lt

Kazakevičius Tomas, MD, PhD
Professor
Telephone No. +370  37 32 67 06
E-mail: tomas.kazakevicius@lsmuni.lt

Lapinskas Tomas, MD, PhD
Lecturer
Telephone No. +370  37 79 37 85
E-mail: tomas.lapinskas@lsmuni.lt

Mizarienė Vaida, MD, PhD
Assoc. Professor
Telephone No. +370  37 32 63 49
E-mail: vaida.mizariene@lsmuni.lt

Pentiokinienė Daiva, MD, PhD
Lector
Telephone No. +370  37 32 68 67
E-mail: daiva.pentiokiniene@kaunoklinikos.lt 

Plisienė Jurgita, MD, PhD
Professor
Telephone No. +370 32 69 52
E-mail: jurgita.plisiene@lsmuni.lt

Puodžiukynas Aras, MD, PhD
Professor
Telephone No. +370  37 32 61 26
E-mail: aras.puodziukynas@lsmuni.lt

Rumbinaitė Eglė, MD, PhD
Lecturer
E-mail: egle.rumbinaite@lsmuni.lt

Šakalytė Gintarė, MD, PhD
Professor
Telephone No. +370  37 32 67 07
E-mail: gsakalyte@yahoo.com

Šlapikas Rimvydas, MD, PhD
Professor
Telephone No. +370  37 32 69 52
E-mail: rimvydas.slapikas@kaunoklinikos.lt

Stoškutė Neris, MD, PhD
Assoc. Professor
Telephone No. +370  37 32 65 47
E-mail: neris.stoskute@lsmuni.lt

Unikas Ramūnas, MD, PhD
Professor
Telephone No. +370  37 32 60 94
E-mail: ramunas.unikas@kaunoklinikos.lt

Vaškelytė Jolanta Justina, MD, PhD, Habil. Dr.
Professor
Telephone No. +370  37 32 45 57
E-mail: jolanta.vaskelyte@lsmuni.lt

Verseckaitė Raimonda, MD, PhD
Lecturer
Telephone No. +370  37 32 68 51
E-mail: raimonda.verseckaite@lsmuni.lt

Zabiela Vytautas, MD, PhD
Professor
Telephone No. +370 37 32 67 06
E-mail: vytautas.zabiela@kaunoklinikos.lt

Diana Žaliaduonytė, MD, PhD
Assoc. Professor
Telephone No. +370  37 32 69 48
E-mail: diana.zaliaduonyte@kaunoklinikos.lt

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

Andrijaitienė Lina
Administrator (on maternity leave)
Telephone No. +370  37 32 63 06
E-mail: lina.andrijaitiene@lsmuni.lt  
Room No.1

Leščiukaitienė Daiva
Study Administrator
Telephone No. +370  37 32 63 06
E-mail: daiva.lesciukaitiene@lsmuni.lt 
Room No. 1

Naudžienė Kristina
Administrator
Telephone No. +370  37 32 64 49
E-mail: kardiologijos.klinika@kaunoklinikos.lt
Room No. 233

Tumosaitė Reda
Administrator
Telephone No.+370 37 32 63 06
E-mail: reda.tumosaite@lsmuni.lt
Room No. 1

Endocrinology clinic consists of an outpatient and pediatric endocrinology departments, as well as inpatient sectors of diabetology, common endocrinology and thyroid disease.

Outpatient department delivers secondary and tertiary level health services in endocrinology to all patient groups with a yearly turnover of around 60000 patients. Diabetology sector focuses on treating diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity. Our goal is enabling patients to manage the disease, prevention and treatment of complications. The sector of common endocrinology and thyroid disease treats patients with thyroid, pituitary, parathyroid, adrenal disorders and rare endocrine syndromes.
Department of pediatric endocrinology is only one of its kind in Lithuania. Children with diabetes, adrenal, thyroid, parathyroid and sexual gland disorders, hypopituitarism, obesity and metabolic syndrome are treated here. Complex diagnostic tests are performed for diagnosis of rare chronic genetic disorders. A department runs a diabetes school where children with diabetes and their families are taught disease self-control and nutrition habits.

Studies

The course of endocrinology and diabetes carried out in cooperation with departments of surgery, radiology, biochemistry and laboratory medicine is included into compulsory curriculum of the 4^th year of the undergraduate program. Elective studies in diabetes and common endocrinology are available for 6^th year students. Residents in internal medicine have a 2 month rotation in our clinic.

Research

In a close cooperation with Institute of Endocrinology a number of scientific programs are carried out continuously, mostly focusing on diabetes, thyroid disorders, reproductive endocrinology, and metabolic diseases. Scientific work being is carried out in department of pediatric endocrinology: 6 of 9 physicians in the department have a doctorate degree; two doctors and a nurse diabetes educator are PhD students.  The research focuses on epidemiology of type 1 diabetes in children, chronic complications an mortality; standardized self management education program for children and adolescents with diabetes; obesity in children and adolescents; metabolic consequences of delayed intrauterine growth; structural and functional thyroid changes in children with iodine deficiency; incidence of cryptorchidism  occurrence and effects of choriogonadotropin treatment. A national register of pediatric diabetes mellitus is being recorded since 1983.

Contacts

The Department of Family Medicine, which belongs to  the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LUHS) Medical Academy, is a scientific and practical base for residents of family medicine. The Department has two modules which are based on theoretical teaching as well as practical training for students from Public Health, Medicine, Nursing and  faculty of Odontology.

Residency training programme consists of 16 specialized cycles. The longest cycle is Family Medicine. It lasts approximately 1.5 years and it is divided into several areas of activities. Such as work at the Family Medicine Clinic where residens improve their theoretical knowledge and practical skills, then 3 months - at private clinic, where residents are introduced to work planning, structure and the principles of work, clinical practice. Also 3 months at outpatient department with a big number of patients. 3 months – medical practice at rural area.

Each resident has a residency supervisor - a family doctor who he works with. According to resident‘s skills, knowledge, activity, capability of working with the patients, a certain level of independency will be given. Currently Family Medicine Clinic has several rooms where residents work  independently, however, the help and advice will be given by a doctor when it will be necessary.

There are a theoretical course at Family Medicine where residents are introduced to  the principals of the research project conduct. One of the obligatory component in the Residency training programme – research project. Literature reading using a critical view, the project‘s planning and conduct in a correct manner, gathered data analysis ad preparation for publication – skills which are essential nowadays in a family doctors practice. And these skills will be gained durring all Residency training programme. The residents of Family Medicine must prepare, conduct, summarize and present their Research Project which has been carried out in primary health care, or  publish at least one article in a refereed journal, whithin 3 years of residency

Scientific activities

Clinic staff takes part in International research projects, based on a evaluation of the primary health care, also focusing on family medicine capabilities and efficiency:

-FP7-HEALTH-2009-single-stage Euprimecare – „Qality and costs of primary care in Europe“ project No. 241595; 

-FP-7 HEALTH-2010-single-stage CERCA „Community-embedded Reproductive health Care for Adolescents“;

- Lithuania - Swiss Cooperation Programme project CH-3-ŠMM-01/07 "Family doctors training in consuling patients about healthy lifestyles"

- LUHS-VDU project TABESORI - Cross-sectoral cooperation in addressing the health problems of social isolated groups in the population.

Clinical activity

 Primary health care service is beeing provided at the Family medicine Clinic which is located in Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno Clinics Department (Eivenių str. 2, Kaunas) and at the Family Medicine Clinic Division (Vytautas Ave. 49, Kaunas) for patients who are registered at the Clinc, however, for non-registered patients the urgent assistance can be provided if needed

If  the patients who has an acute medical problems which occurs when family doctor is off-duty, patient will be directed to the emergency room.

The clinic provides prenatal health care, preventive child health care and immunizations. Patient can be consulted by the psychiatrist and psychologist if needed.

There are preventive programs ongoing in the clinic (cervical, prostate and colorectal cancer programs, breast cancer preventive program and cardiovascular disease preventive program)

Durring Family Clinic off-duty hours patients are directed to the Kaunas Hospital emergency department. Durring the weekend and holidays patient may get family doctor‘s on-call consultation by phone.

Contacts

DEPARTMENT OF GASTROENTEROLOGY

Head of the department – assoc. prof. dr. Juozas Kupcinskas

Phone: (+370 37) 326898

E-mail: juozas.kupcinskas@lsmuni.lt

Department of Gastroenterology is the largest digestive diseases clinic in Baltic States, where the care for all liver and digestive system diseases is provided for Lithuanian and foreign citizens, including liver pre-transplant and post-transplant care, rare GI diseases, GI oncology, etc. Department is equipped with modern endoscopic, ultrasound and functional diagnostic equipment that is needed for management of all gastrointestinal disorders according to the up to date international standards. Over the last years a wide range of modern diagnostic and treatment modalities have been introduced into clinical practise including capsule endoscopy, microbiota transplantation, enteroscopy, confocal laser endomicroscopy, cholangioscopy, endoscopic stenting of esophagus, endoscopic mucosectomy for early gastric and colonic cancer, transjugular liver biopsy, measurement of hepatic venous pressure gradient, TIPS placement, etc.

Department of Gastroenterology includes two units - Gastroenterology Unit (head - assoc. prof. dr. V. Petrenkiene) and Endoscopy unit (head - prof. dr. K. Adamonis).

FOCUS OF CLINICAL ACTIVITIES: Liver transplant program; advanced diagnostic and interventional endoscopic techniques; endoscopic ultrasound; contrast enhanced ultrasound; capsule endoscopy; fecal microbiome transplantation; inflammatory bowel diseases; rare liver diseases; rare esophageal diseases.

RESEARCH FOCUS:

• Inflammatory bowel diseases: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (epidemiology, genetics, microbiota, animal models, clinical trials).
• Diseases associated with H.pylori – atrophic gastritis, gastric cancer (epidemiology, cell-lines, genetics, clinical trials, microbiome).
• Rare gastrointestinal and liver diseases (Wilson's disease, hemochromatosis, Budd-Chiari syndrome, rare GI tumors, autoimmune liver diseases and other rare GI conditions).
• Molecular biomarkers of premalignant and malignant gastrointestinal diseases (microRNAs, ln-RNA, cfDNA, microbiome, etc.).

CENTER OF RARE GASTROINTESTINAL AND LIVER DISEASE

Head of the Center – assoc. prof. dr. Vitalija Petrenkiene

E-mail: vitalija.petrenkiene@kaunoklinikos.lt

Phone: (+370 37) 326188

The consultant of the Center – prof. habil. dr. Limas Kupcinskas

E-mail: limas.kupcinskas@lsmuni.lt

This center was established in 2013. The center provided care for patients with Wilsons’s disease, hemochromatosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cholangitis, Budd-Chiari syndrome, rare liver diseases of oregnancy, autoimmune hepatitis, collagenous and lymphocytic colitis, microscopic colitis etc. Genetic testing is available for inherited metabolic diseases of the liver. On the 8th of June 2017, the Center of Rare Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases has been endorsed by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania as the national reference centre for the participation in the activities of the European Reference Networks. The center is working with close collaboration with the Institute for Digestive Research and Laboratory of clinical genetics.

NATIONAL PROJECTS:

• "Micro-RNA as biomarkers for early diagnosis of premalignant and malignant diseases of gastrointestinal tract" (VP1–3.1- ŠMM-07-K-01–156, 2011-2014).
• "Functional role of miR20b, miR451, miR29c, miR125b in pathogenesis of gastric and colorectal cancer" (Nr. MIP-007/2014, 2014-2016).
• "MicroRNA profiling and functional analysis in gastrointestinal stromal tumors" (Nr. MIP-006/2014, 2014-2016).
• "The aging gut: genetic and enteric nervous system alterations in intestinal diverticulosis" (SEN-06/2015/PRM15-135, 2015-2018).
• "Gastric microbiome: a twin study" (APP-2/2016, 2016-2019).
• "Role of IsomiR in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer: from miRNome-wide bioinformatic analysis to their functional validation" (S-MIP-17-22, 2017-2020).
• "Multi-layer omics approach to gastric cancer: circulating biomarker profiling in the blood on genetic, epigenetic and microbiome levels" (MULTIOMICS, Nr. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-01-0130, 2018-2021).
• "Development of novel methods for gut mircobiome modification"(CPVA-K-703-02-0013/PRM18-87, 2018-2021).

INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS:

• "Comparison of Bacterial Metagenomes between Countries with Low and High Incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease", 2006-2008.
• "International IBD Genetics Project", 2011-2013.
•  "European ECCO-EpiCom epidemiology East-West IBD gradient project", 2010-2015.
• "The PANcreatic disease ReseArch (PANDoRA) consortium: An update", 2013.
•  "Development and validation of gastric cancer associated autoantibody test for early gastric cancer detection" (TAP LLT 04/2014, 2014-2016).
• "Volatile biomarkers for early detection and characterization of gastric and colorectal neoplasms" (EURONANOMED 2 - 01/2014, 2014-2017).
• "Improvement of quality of the National Cancer Screening Programmes implementation", 2015.
• "MicroRNA Profiling in Tissues and Primary Intestinal Epithelial Cells of Patients with Active and Inactive Ulcerative Colitis" (PRM15-193, 2016).
• "Gastric microbiome: a twin study" (APP-2/2016, 2016-2019).

ACHIEVEMENTS:

• 2018 – The honorary name "Honored medical doctor of Lithuania", prof. dr. K. Adamonis
• 2016 – "The Most Promising Doctor of Kaunas", Award, assoc. prof. J. Kupcinskas
• 2015 – "The Most Sincere Doctor of Kaunas",  Award, prof. dr. K. Adamonis
• 2016 – Kaunas City Science Awards, The best Kaunas Scientist, prof. dr. L. Kupcinskas
• 2012 – "Veidas" journal, "Mini Nobel 2012", Award, prof. dr. L. Kupcinskas
• 2010 – National Premium of Science of Lithuania, prof. dr. L. Kupcinskas
• 2011 – Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas Knight Cross, prof. dr. L. Kupcinskas
• 2009 – The honorary name "Honored medical doctor of Lithuania", prof. dr. L. Kupcinskas
• 2008 – "Tree of life" Award for Scientific Activity in Medicine, prof. dr. L. Kupcinskas

CONTACT:

LSMU Department of Gastroenterology
Address: Eivenių g. 2, LT-50009 Kaunas, Phone: (+370 37) 326898, E-mail: gastroenterologijos.klinika@kaunoklinikos.lt

Head of the department: Prof. Donatas Venskutonis
Phone: (+370 37) 306066 
E-mail: donatas.venskutonis@lsmuni.lt

About us

In 1998, June 12 two departments of the Kaunas Academy of Medicine, the Second Clinic of Surgery and the Department of General Surgery were merged and the Clinic of General Surgery was established. The Second Clinical Hospital of Kaunas (now:KaunasClinicalHospital) was chosen as the main base for the clinic. Since 1998 head of the Clinic is professor D. Venskutonis.

History of the Second Clinic of Surgery reaches 1920. One of its founders and the first surgical discipline teachers was Juozas Žemgulys. In 1922 it became the Surgical Clinic and Department and its first head was professor H. Boitas till 1926.04.15. From 1926 to 1939 the Surgical Clinic and Department was led by professor A. Hagentornas. In 1939 the Surgical Clinic and Department was reorganized and two separate departments were created: Department of Faculty Surgery at the Red Cross hospital (head of the department professor V. Kanauka) and Department of Hospital Surgery at Kaunas Clinics (head of the department professor V. Kuzma). Department of Faculty Surgery was transferred to Kaunas Clinics in 1945 (head of the department assoc. professor J.Jaržemskas), from 1961 to 1971 the head of the Department was assoc. professor J. Karaliūnas. In 1971 Department of faculty surgery was transferred to the second clinicalhospitalofKaunas, the current location of the Clinic. From 1971 to 1974 head of the department was assoc. professor J. Platūkis. From 1974 to 1998 the department was led by professor V. Zykas. In 1982 the Department of Faculty Surgery was renamed to the Second Department of Surgery and in 1992 it became the Second Clinic of Surgery.

Department of General Surgery originates in 1922 as the Department of Introduction to Surgery and Operative Surgery. The first head of the Department was professor J. Dzirnė. In the same year 1922 it was joined to the Surgical Clinic and Department. A separate Department of General Surgery was established in 1945 at the Red Cross hospital. The first head of the Department was professor T. Šiurkus. The Department was transferred to the third ClinicalhospitalofKaunasin 1970. From 1974 to 1986 the head of the Department was assoc. professor V. Vaškelis, from 1986 to 1993 – professor A. Purtokas, from 1993 to 1994 – professor J. Pundzius and from 1994 to 1998 it was again led by professor A. Purtokas.

Clinical basis of the Clinic is Department of Surgery with 45 beds which is divided into sectors of abdominal surgery, coloproctology, vascular surgery, as well as surgical infections. We have 11 abdominal, 6 general, 2 vascular surgeons, 1 coloproctologist and 2 interventional radiologists. Elective as well as emergency abdominal surgical, coloproctological and vascular procedures are performed by our staff including reconstruction of the colon, laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures. Patients from all over Lithuania receive treatment in the Department while majority of our patients come from Kaunas city and district. Annually, more than 2,000 patients are treated, about 2000 surgical procedures are performed in the Department.

Clinic of General Surgery cooperates with the United States Wayne State University School of Medicine (Detroit), university surgical clinics of Graz (Austria), Ghent (Belgium), Copenhagen (Denmark), Malmö and Lund (Sweden), Szeged (Hungary), Frankfurt and Heidelberg (Germany) as well as Polish (Krakow, Bialystok, Bydgoszcz) medical academies surgical clinics, Boeblingen regional hospital (Germany), the Polish Society of parenteral and enteral nutrition. Majority of the clinic staff are members of German society of surgery, European society of surgery, European Digestive surgery and other societies. Our staff members continuously develop their skills in these and other foreign as well as Lithuanian institutions.

Next to the clinical work our staff is involved in a research work. Students of theLithuanianUniversityof Health sciences carry out their researches at our Clinic.

Studies

Medical Faculty students are taught the essentials of general surgery, students of the Faculty of Dentistry follow the course of surgical diseases, students of the Faculty of Nursing study surgical nursing. The course of First aid is taught for the students from the faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Public Health. Since the implementation of the problem based learning the discipline of essentials of General Surgery was distributed over five modules of the first and second years while the main part of the course is taught in the module of Professional Competence. PhD students and residents can find relevant study programs in the field of general surgery during their postgraduate studies. The Clinic organizes training courses in laparoscopic surgery, enteral nutrition, abdominal emergencies and hernia surgery. Clinic provides the base for internship and the residentship of Surgery. Each year the students choose optional subjects at our Clinic.

Research

Research topic: features of an acute surgical aggression and its preventon in elderly patients (clinical and morphological studies).

Contacts

Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine was established in 2015. 

The aim of Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine – to organise academic, scientific and clinical activities in their progress.

Objectives of Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine – to organise and conduct studies and research, develop study plans and study programmes as well as subjects and specialisations plans, compile hardware and software necessary for research and studies, prepare textbooks, scientific articles, books and other teaching and learning utilities.

Clinical activities – Clinical Geneticists of Department of  Genetics and Molecular Medicine consult patients in Lithuanian University of Health Sciences hospital Kaunas clinics. Genetic consultations are available in therapeutic Departments, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Pediatrics.

Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine laboratory has a wide range of genetic tests: cytogenetic, molecular cytogenetic, molecular genetic,  which can be performed from variuos samples: blood, plasma, solid tissues, amnionic fluid, chorionic villi, cord blood, urine.

Studies. The staff of Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine give lectures, organize seminars, practical courses – transfer their knowledge to bachelor degree and master degree students, residents and participants of advanced training course

1. Bachelor degree programmes

• Medical and Veterinary Genetics (3rd study year, Medical Genetics I).
• Medical and Veterinary Genetics (Bachelor's Thesi.

2. Master degree programmes

• Medicine (5th study year, Clinical Genetics).
• Medicine (Master‘s Thesis).
• Laboratory Medicine Biology (Master‘s Thesis).

3. Residency programmes

• Clinical Genetics.
• Neurology (Basics of Neuropathology and Neurogenetics).

Contacts:

Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine
Address: Eivenių str. 2, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania
Phone: +370 37 326741
Email: GMMklinika@kaunoklinikos.lt

Head - Virginija Ašmonienė, MD PhD
Email: Virginija.Asmoniene@lsmuni.lt

Address: Eivenių g. 2, LT-50009 Kaunas
Email: Imunologijos.alergologijos.klinika@kaunoklinikos.lt

Department of Immunology and Allergology was officially established in 2016. However, studies in the field of allergy and immunology in the University of Kaunas were initiated already in the early beginning of XX century and were related to prof. Vladas Lasas experimental works in anaphylaxis. Establishment of Sector for Clinical Immunology and Allergology in 2002 in Kaunas University Hospital was a significant event, which set up a platform for the growth of specialty, leading to the creation of a separate Department.
  The main objectives of the Department are to ensure the development of studies, scientific and clinical activities in the field of immunology and allergology and actively participate in the implementation of the University's mission of developing a healthy and educated society.

Studies

  The Department of Immunology and Allergology is responsible for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in a number of programmes at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LUHS). The staff of the Department consists of 6 employees: 1 professor, 1 associate professor, 2 lecturers, 2 assistants.

Undergraduate studies are the following:

• ‘‘Congenital and acquired disorders of immune response‘‘ (module of Chest Diseases, Allergy and Clinical Immunology and Hematologyand Oncology) for 4th year students of Medicine;
• ‘‘Basics of Immunology‘‘ for 2nd year students of Medical and Veterinary Genetics;
• ‘‘Basics of Laboratory Immunology’’ and ,,Basics of Clinical Immunology’’ (module Laboratory Hematology and Basics of Immunology) for 3^rd year students of Medical and Veterinary Biochemistry.

Postgraduate studies

An Allergology and Clinical Immunology residency programme (duration 4 yrs). The objectives of this program are to acquire knowledge and build skills, enabling to study patients with

acute and chronic diseases of the internal organs and immune system and allergic diseases, to formulate and realize an individual patient's treatment plan and to provide urgent assistance during critical conditions. Upon completion of this study program, competences acquired corresponding to the qualification norm of the allergologist and clinical immunologist specialty are acquired.

Doctoral (PhD) studies

• Program in Allergology for Doctoral studies. The aim of this program is to systematize and deepen knowledge about the most common form of immune response disorder - increased immune sensitivity (allergy), its mechanisms, their significance for the development, diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis of allergic diseases, presenting allergological science achievements and perspectives, their application for diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
• Clinical Immunology program for Doctoral studies. The aim of the program is to systematize and deepen knowledge about normal and impaired immune response, immune pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment aspects of diseases.
  
  

Clinical activities

  Department of Immunology and Allergology consists of Outpatient clinic, Day care unit and Laboratory of Immunology. Specialists consult patients of all age groups who are expected to have immune pathology related to allergy or other diseases.
  Every year new diagnostic and treatment approaches of immune response in chronic or autoimmune diseases, transplantation, allergen challenge and immunotherapy are introduced.

The most recent evidence-based methodologies:

1. B. Šitkauskienė, A. Blažienė. Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of the primary immunodeficiency, 2016.
2. B. Šitkauskienė, L. Tamašauskienė. What is primary immunodeficiency and how to live with it, 2016.
3. B. Šitkauskienė, A. Blažienė, M. Bylaitė – Bučinskienė, A. Chomičienė, J.Staikūnienė, S. Valiukevičienė. Recommendations for the classification, diagnosis, and treatment of urticaria, 2015.
   
   

Research

  Priority of the Department – multidisciplinary projects investigating innovative concepts and critical gaps in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases in order to increase the knowledge of immune mechanisms of these diseases. Ongoing research is focused on the translational aspects with integration of data from immunological evaluation of allergen-induced airway inflammation with clinical data and on the identification of biomarkers and molecular targets in order to pave the way for better diagnostics and improved individualized treatment of related diseases. A more detailed understanding of relationship between structural elements of immune system and their role in the overall function in inflammation is important for the development of new therapeutic approaches.
  Specialists working in the Department have written many articles published in journals with high impact factor, e.g. American Journal of Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, The New England Jornal of Medicine, Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology, etc. 
  Research results are presented at the annual congresses of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), European Respiratory Society (ERS) Clinical Allergology and Immunology Assembly, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), and World Allergy Organization (WAO).

  Applied clinical trials are performed based on the good clinical practice rules. Most resent clinical studies are the following:

1. Multicentre, double-coded, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, imposed to measure AllerT, similar to overlapping peptides, received from Bet v 1 combination, two doses efficiency and tolerance for adults with allergic rhinitis/rhinoconjunctivitis caused by birch pollens.
2. Multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to measure an efficiency and safety of specific immunotherapy aluminum hydroxide adsorbed allergic drug for house dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) to patients with allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis.
3. Involving patients, with primary immunodeficiency diseases and treated in the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) Kauno klinikos Primary immunodeficiency center, to European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID) registry.

International partners

  Since 2005 LUHS is the Center of cooperation of the European Union's 6th General Program project GA2LEN (Global Allergy and Asthma European Network).
  In 2012 the Centre of Primary Immunodeficiency was established and is working within the Department. This Centre belongs to the international Jeffrey Modell network, J Project (since 2016), and is involved in the Orphanet (www.orpha.net) database.
  Cooperation with European research institutes and active participation in the activities of international organizations have allowed to improve knowledge in the field of Allergology and Immunology, also to develop the newest diagnostic and therapeutic methods for allergic and immune diseases, modernize and develop scientific work, create preconditions for the success in this matter.

The academic personnel of the infectious diseases department consists of 1 professor, 1 associated professor, 4 lecturers, and 2 assistants. 1 doctoral student and 6 residents are enrolled in the department.

The center for the infectious diseases academic and clinical activities is PI Kaunas Clinical Hospital. The clinic is composed of two Infectious diseases wards (50 beds in total) and an infectious diseases outpatient department. On average, about 1800 patients are treated in the hospital, and about 10000 outpatients are consulted annually.

History

The Infectious diseases department was established in 1950. Its first head was assoc. prof. A. Žiugžda. From 1952 to 1956, the department was run by assoc. prof. S. Šimanskaja, 1956-1972 - prof. S. Gruodytė, 1973-1991 - prof. J. Dievaitienė. In 1991, the Kaunas Medical Academy’s Infectious Diseases Clinic was established. From 1991 to 2007 its head was prof. A. Laiškonis, from 2008 – prof. A. Mickienė.

During the years, numerous well-known, respected clinicians and scientists were working in the department: prof. S.Gruodytė, prof. V. Bagdonienė, prof. J. Dievaitienė, prof. A. Laiškonis, assoc. prof. J. Gimžauskas, assoc. prof. V. Stankaitytė, assoc. prof. V.M. Bareišienė, assistants D. Gradauskienė, A. Vasiliauskas, S. Tumosienė, E. Čepulis, among others. They set the direction for the scientific studies of intestinal infectious diseases, epidemiology of viral hepatitis, its diagnostics and treatment; began to explore the pathogenesis of infectious diseases.

Research

The main areas of the scientific work conducted in the department are studies on CNS infections and influenza treatment and vaccine effectiveness studies. The results of the research work have been presented in various international conferences and medical congresses. During the period of 5 years (2013-2017), 4 PhD dissertations were defended (3 at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and 1 at Karolinska Institutet (Stockholm, Sweden)).

The employees of the department are experts in the Baltic/Nordic and European working groups for tick-borne diseases; reviewers for international medical journals for Infectious diseases; members of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), Association of the Baltic-Nordic infectologists, and Association of the French infectologists.

In 2008-2017, researches from the department published 21 articles in the ISI Web of Science database, and 16 articles in medical journals, referenced in international medical databases.

Studies

Infectious diseases courses for the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th year students of the medical faculty, 3rd year students of the nursing faculty, 4th year students of the odontology faculty, and 2nd year students of the public-health department and the masters-degree students of this department.

From 2010, there is an actively functioning Infectious disease club in the department. During their post-graduate studies, residents of neurology, dermato-venereology,  internal medicine and family medicine continue the infectious disease course.

The Department of Infectious Diseases is the center for education and training of infectious diseases residents and doctoral students. In the department, various LUHS doctoral students take the infectious disease course; infectious diseases specialists and family doctors participate in regular continuous professional education courses.

International partnerships and cooperation

The department has a close partnership with the Infectious Diseases Department at Karolinska Institutet (Sweden), the Infectious Diseases Department at Uppsala Universitet (Sweden), The Department of Infectious Diseases of Goteborg University (Sweden), The Clinic of Infectious and Traveler’s Diseases at the Grenoble University (France), The Clinic of Infectious Diseases at the Medical University of Bialystok (Poland), Infectology Center of Latvia and the Clinic of Infectious Diseases, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS (Latvia).

Through cooperation with the aforementioned institutions, joint scientific research is carried out; internships for residents, doctoral students, doctors and nurses are set-up; international conferences are hosted.

Ongoing projects

1. EU-TICK-BO (European Genetics Study of Tick-borne Encephalitis; multicentral study coordinated by Graz University (Austria),
2. An observational case-control study to measure seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness in hospitalized patients in Lithuania (joint project with I-MOVE (Integrated Monitoring of Vaccines Effects in Europe) consortium (funded from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 634446).
3. A prospective study on the long-term outcome and pathogenesis of tick-borne encephalitis (in cooperation with the Department of Infectious Diseases and Department of Pharmacology and Physiology of Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and the Department of Infectious Diseases of Göteborg University, Sweden). Funded by Pfizer as a grant for the Independent Investigator Initiated Research Proposal (Project Code/PO/Tracking Number WI236259).
4. European Network for Collaboration on Encephalitis Investigations & Follow-up (multicentral study coordinated by Grenoble University, France).

Address: Eivenių 2, LT-50009, Kaunas

Head of the Department prof. MD Vidas Pilvinis

The Department of Intensive Care as an individual department of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences was established in 1997. However, the scientific and educational work in the field was active since 1975.

Studies

The Department of Intensive Care is LUHS training base, where:

The Department of Intensive Care also implement professional development courses for physicians and nurses of various specialties.

Research

The main research interests of the Department of Intensive Care focus on various issues of life-threatening conditions and disorders: microcirculatory disorders, polyneuropathy of critical illnesses, impact of human pulmonary venous innervation on cardiac arrhythmias and others.

Following the scientific path four dissertations are being prepared.

The Department participate in various international clinical researches; the staff of the Department take part in various international and national scientific associations and societies.

Together with the Lithuanian society of intensive care the Department implement scientific and educational events.

Staff of the Department

Prof. MD Vidas Pilvinis, Head of the Department

Prof. MD Dalia Adukauskienė

Assoc. Prof. MD Andrius Pranskūnas

Assoc. Prof. MD Raimundas Vaitkevičius

Lect., MD. Neringa Balčiūnienė 

Lect., MD Edvin Šneider 

Assist. Rūta Ablonskytė-Dūdonienė

Assist. Rolandas Damulevičius 

Assist. Asta Senavaitytė 

Assist. doct. Jūratė Šimkienė

Assist. Tomas Tamošuitis 

Assist. Jolita Vilčinskaitė

Administrator for studies dr. Jūratė Lionikaitė

Contacts

Address: Josvainių g. 2, Kaunas
Head of the department: Prof. habil. dr. Albinas Naudžiūnas
Phone: +370 37 306 092

General information

20 employees work in the Clinic of Internal Diseases: 18 doctors - pedagogical personnel, 2 persons – supporting personnel. Pedagogical personnel includes: 3 professor, 3 associate professors, 2 lecturer, 10 assistants.

History

The Clinic of Internal Diseases is based in Kaunas Clinical Hospital. It was established in 2002 (when the Chair of Propedeutics to Internal Diseases was re-organised into the Clinic of Internal Diseases). Prof. habil. Alfredas Žiugžda (1952-1988), later prof.habil. Marija Staponkienė (1988-2001) managed the Chair of Propedeutics to Internal Diseases.

Research

Diagnostics of heart failure by method of impedance–plethismography (in collaboration with the Clinic of Cardiology). Non-invasive diagnostics of peripheral artery disease. ECG changes in different stages of myocardial infarction. Diagnosis of atherosclerotic  changes using non-invasive methods. Two doctorates are developing research projects

Studies

Problem-based teaching of II-III-year students of Medical Faculty: „Clinical Examination of Patients“.

Students of Odonthology and Pharmacy Faculties study „Internal Diseases“.

Students of Community Nursing Faculty study „l Assessment of Health status“.

Postgraduate studies: about 100 residents study in the programme of residentship of internal diseases.

International collaboration

Collaboration with world known 3M LITTMANN company, Kazakh National Medical University named after SD Asfendijarov (Kazakhstan, Almaty), International Journal „Electrocardiology“ ( prof. E. Kalinauskienė is an international editor of this journal).

Projects

3M LITTMANN company project on improvement of auscultation method.

Contacts

History

The Department of Laboratory Medicine was established in 2009. It originated from the Laboratory service, which had been founded in 1940 at Kaunas University Hospital. The activities of the Department of Laboratory Medicine are focused on integration of clinical diagnostics, education and research according international standards.

The aims:

• to ensure needs and expectations of patients and clinicians in laboratory diagnostics, providing comprehensive list of laboratory tests, high quality results with accompanying competent consultative support – for diagnosis, early detection of diseases, monitoring of their course or treatment effectiveness, prevention of diseases;
• to transfer the knowledge and innovation of laboratory medicine to students, residents, master degree Ph.D. students and advanced specialists from other fields.

The objectives:

• to provide high quality service of laboratory medicine;
• to ensure implementation, operation and continuous improvement of quality management system according international quality standards;
• to participate in external quality assessment programs;
• to ensure competent, confidential and timely diagnostic service – to offer a comprehensive list of laboratory tests with accompanying consultative support;
• to communicate to health care practitioners for proper resolving of laboratory medicine problems and questions;
• to ensure high quality service in education of medical students, residents, master degree, Ph.D. students and advanced training of medical specialists;
• to ensure research activity and contribution in interdisciplinaryresearch.

Clinical activities are organized according to the international standard “Medical laboratories – particular requirements for quality and competence” (EN ISO 15189:2012).

Laboratories

Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Genetics

Supervisor: laboratory medicine physician Rasa Steponavičiūtė.

E-mail: rasa.steponaviciute@fc.lsmuni.lt; Phone: (+370 37) 326365.

Laboratory of Hematology and General Cytology

Supervisor: laboratory medicine physician, M.D., Ph.D. Erika Skrodenienė.

E-mail: erika.skrodeniene@fc.lsmuni.lt; Phone: (+370 37) 326365.

Laboratory of Microbiology

Supervisor: laboratory medicine physician, Prof., M.D., Ph.D. Astra Vitkauskienė.

E-mail: astra.vitkauskiene@kmuk.lt; Phone: (+370 37) 326775.

Studies

The staff of Department of Laboratory Medicine actively acts in educational and research fields. Laboratory medicine physicians, medical biologists and technicians give lectures, organize seminars, practical courses – transfer their knowledge in laboratory medicine to medical students, residents, master degree students in medicine and participants of advanced training courses.

Master programmes

• Medicine (participation in 4th–6th study years modules)
• Laboratory Medicine Biology

Residency programmes

• Laboratory Medicine
• Allergology and Clinical Immunology (module of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics)
• Infectious Diseases (module of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics)
• Hematology (module of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics)
• Rheumatology (module of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics)

Bachelor programmes

• Medical and Veterinary Genetics (2nd study year modules of Hematology and hemostasis, Clinical Chemistry)
• Medical and Veterinary Biochemistry (3rd study year modules Hematology and hemostasis, Clinical Chemistry)

Research

Fields of interest – bacterial pathogenicity factors and their influence on the diseases course, etiopathogenesis of hematooncologic diseases and disorders of hemostasis.

Contacts

About the Department

    The history of the Department of Neonatology is closely associated with the establishment and development of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Department of Pediatric Medicine. The Department of Neonatology was founded as an autonomous unit by the decree of the Rector of Kaunas University of Medicine (currently - Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LUHS) in 1992. Since then the Department has successfully combined clinical practice, research and studies. The first Head was  Antanas Pužas M.D., who was succeeded by Assoc. Prof. Dalia Daugėlienė in 2001 and by Assoc. Prof. Eglė Markūnienė in 2004. THe current Head of the Department is Prof. Rasa Tamelienė.

In 1992 the Perinatology program was introduced in Lithuania, Kaunas Center of Perinatology was established and the Department of Neonatology became one of its branches. Kaunas Center of Perinatology treats and performs neonatal surgery on mature and premature newborns with congenital and acquired disorders and serves Kaunas, Klaipėda and Šiauliai regions. The Department of Neonatology consists of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which contains 12 beds, and the Neonatal Unit, whitch contains 80 beds. The Department also includes a Follow-up Rooms where all high-risk newborns are brought from the territories assigned to the Center of Perinatology. Each year the Department treats about 3800 newborns, 500 of which are premature. The Department of Neonatology promotes family-friendly care and in 2005 the Department was granted the title of a Baby-Friendly Hospital, which was renewed in 2017.

Studies and research

   Each year the Department of Neonatology provides training for about 400 students from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, about 70 of which are foreign students: fifth-year students of the Faculty of Medicine undergo training during the studies of the Obstetrics-Gynecology module, sixth-year students – in elective cycles “A healthy newborn" and "Newborn breastfeeding”; third and fourth-year students of the Faculty of Nursing train during the studies of the Obstetrics module, and fourth-year students – during the elective cycle “Breastfeeding promoting and Lactation Management”. Students undergo practical training during summer and prepare Master theses. Members of the Neonatology Society (established in 2009) conduct research for conferences, which are organized by the Students’ Scientific Society.

The students obtain knowledge and skills from a teaching staff consisting of 5 Doctors of Science, of which 2 are Professors and 3 are Associate Professors. The staff also includes 1 member with a Master's Degree in Psychology, 2- in Education Science and 1- in Management and Administration. Students participate in lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical classes in the Department and HybridLab.The instructors continue to improve their qualification at clinical and educational scientific conferences in Portugal, Argentina, Australia, Great Britain, South Africa and Germany, during internship in Lund and Karolonska University Hospitals in Sweden, the US Chicago Illinois University Hospital, and Gregorio Maranon University Hospital in Madrid, Spain. They also share their experience with Lithuanian and foreign physicians and nurses by organizing scientific-practical conferences, seminars, refresher courses, and internships. 

Since 1994 the Department of Neonatology has been participating in training resident physicians in Pediatric Medicine and Neonatology, Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatric Medicine, Intensive Therapy and Emergency Care programs. The Department conducts clinical research on topics of neonatal asphyxia, feeding, long-term outcome monitoring, safe hospitals, and staff burnout. Currently 4 doctoral students are studying in the  Department and 8 doctoral dissertations have already been defended. The Department takes part in 5 doctoral stydy programs: “Anesthesia and Intensive Therapy During Pregnancy and Childbirth”, “Peculiarities of Neonatal Adaptation and Development”, “Reproductive Health: Biological, Medical, and Bioethical Aspects”, “Perinatal Infection”, and “Application of Molecular Techniques in Scientific Research”.  

In 2011, the first course-book “Neonatology” was published in Lithuania and textbooks about perinatology and pediatrics were produced in cooperation with the co-authors. Researchers of the Department  publish their results in Lithuanian and international  journals.

The Department of Neonatology participates in intrenational projects:

- 2011-2012 the LUHS Department of Neonatology, the Estonian Science Foundation and the University of Liverpool "European Study of Neonatal Excipient Exposure"

- 2012-2013 the LUHS Department of Neonatology multicenter epidemiological study "European Survey of Sedation and Analgesia Practices for Newborns Admitted to Intensive Care Units"

- 2012-2016 the LUHS Department of Neonatology in cooperation between Lithuanian and Switzerland "Improvement of Maternal and Neonatal Health Care"

- 2017- now the LUHS Department of Neonatology multicenter study "Measuring Compliance with the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative for the neonatal Wards"

- 2018- now the LUHS Department of Neonatology multicenter study "The 2nd International Closeness Survey"

Contacts

Department of Neonatology, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine,

Lithuanian University of Health Sciences

Eiveniu  Str. 2, Kaunas 50009, Lithuania

Phone +370 37 326507, fax +370 37 326507

E-mail: neonatologijos.klinika@kaunoklinikos.lt

Head of the Department of Neonatology: Professor, MD, PhD Rasa Tamelienė

Phone +370 37 326194

E-mail:rasa.tameliene@kaunoklinikos.lt  

Contacts

Nephrological Clinic of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LUHS) was established in 1992 and till 2012 it was guided by prof. V. Kuzminskis. Since 2012 prof. I. A. Bumblyte is a Head of Nephrological Clinic. During 25 years it became one of the most progressive nephrological centers in Baltic countries, because it provides full service for nephrological patients: clinical nephrology, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation. Subdepartments of clinical toxicology and therapeutic apheresis are included into the structure of Clinic, also.

Nephrological Clinic has a good clinical basis. For this reason it carries significant academic and scientific work. Pedagogic staff of Clinic consists of 4 professors, 2 associate professors, 5 lectors and 5 assistants. Neprological Clinic is conducting module “Kidney and urinary tract pathology, clinical toxicology” (ECTS 6) for 5^th year medical students.

In Nephrological Clinic there are two residency programs. Nephrological residency lasts 4 years (it’s curriculum contains 2 years studies in internal medicine and 2 years studies in nephrology), residency of clinical toxicology – 3 years. 52 physicians graduated residency of nephrology and 7 physicians graduated residency of clinical toxicology since 1996.

Scientific work is based on the clinical data, mainly. Eleven Ph.D. theses were defended in the Nephrological Clinic in this century:

• Changes of quality of hemodialysis in Lithuania in 1996–2000 (E. Ziginskiene, 2002).
• Clinical-morphological characteristics of glomerulopathies and prognosis of chronic renal failure progression (L. Razukeviciene, 2002).
• Changes of trace metal’s concentration in the blood of patients with chronic renal failure (I. Skarupskiene, 2003).
• Factors influencing hospitalisations of hemodialysis patients (R. Vaiciuniene, 2010).
• Factors influencing survival of hemodialysis patients in Lithuania (A. Stankuviene, 2010).
• Importance of preoperative investigation and postoperative monitoring of arteriovenous fistula function in patients on hemodialysis (S. Kybartiene, 2012).
• Life quality in patients with CKD in comparison with patients on renal replacement therapy (hemodialysis, transplantation) (N. Kusleikaite, 2012).
• Prevalence of chronic kidney disease and its risk factors among family practice patients (A. Zilinskiene; 2015).
• Evaluation of factors influencing kidney graft and recipient survival after kidney transplantation (E. Dalinkeviciene; 2017).
• Renal Anemia control of Lithuanian hemodialysis patients and the factors influencing it (K. Petruliene; 2017).
• Causes of severe acute kidney injury and the factors influencing outcomes (V. Balciuviene; 2018).
• Vascular calcification, calcium-phosphate disturbances and biomarkers for hemodialysis patients (V. Petrauskiene, 2019).

Ongoing Ph.D. theses:

• The impact of stem cells correcting acute kidney injury on development of complications. Experimental research. A. Gryguc
• The influence of deceased donor factors on kidney transplantation outcomes. R. Augliene

Nephrological Clinic is conducting the LUHS programme „Optimization program of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney diseases: diagnosis, prevention opportunities and treatment “.

In 2017 Nephrological Clinic guided LUHS-Kaunas University of Technology join project „Noninvasive cerebrovaslucar autoregulation monitoring in hemodialysis patients“.

Since 2017 Nephrological Clinic is participating in Lithuanian Science Council project „Investigation of immunosuppressant concentrations detected by different methodologies with the functions of the transplanted organ“.

Nephrological Clinic is also participating in multinational studies: 1. Nordic peridialysis study – multicenter Scandinavian prospective observational study. 2. The Vitamin D system in Europe along the 24^th meridian (EuroDVit 24)

Nephrological Clinic is very active participant of  Sister Renal Centers (SRC) program of International Society of Nephrology. 15 years of collaboration with Ghent University (Belgium) supported the progress of nephrology in Kaunas. More than 20 conferences with famous international speakers, such as prof. N. Lameire, prof. R. Vanholder, prof. E. Ritz and prof. W. Van Biesen, were organized by our Clinic. 26 doctors visited Ghent University hospital during this program. In 2010 Nephrological Clinic became supervisor of SRC program for the Brest (Belarussia) Nephrological Centre and from 2016 for Lutsk (Ukraine). Over 40 lectures were presented in Belorussia and Ukraine, 22 doctors and 10 nurses from Brest and 4 doctors from Lutsk were trained in Kaunas.

For the achievements in clinical, academical and scientific work, team of  Nephrological Clinic is dominating in Lithuanian  Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Association (LNDTA). Since 2003 till 2015 prof. V. Kuzminskis was the president of LANDT, since 2015 prof. I. A. Bumblyte was elected president. LANDT became very powerful and active organization with numerous national and international conferences, educational activities for general population and patients, preparation of guidelines and participation in ERA-EDTA Renal Replacement Therapy registry. 

Mission

To participate in the creation of educated and healthy society.

Objectives

1. To conduct high quality evidence based education and to develop responsible, motivated and creative  personality.
2. To conduct research in the field of neuroscience, to train scientists.
3. To conduct comprehensive clinical practice.
4. To collaborate with national and international partners.

Historical overview

The Department of Nervous and Psychiatric Diseases was established in 1924 in University of Kaunas. In 1985 it was expanded to the Department of Nervous, Psychiatry Diseases and Neurosurgery. The first chair of the Department during the period 1924 - 1939 was  professor J. Blažys, 1939 - 1945 -  professor  P. Vaičiūnas, 1945 - 1953 - prof. L. Gutmanas, 1953-1989 - professor. J. Šurkus, 1989 - 1991 – docent E.Jaržemskas. The Neurology part of the Department for a long time was leaded by habil. professor A. Jocevičienė, later by docent V. Ostrauskas, docent V. Kuliukas, docent V.Pauza. In 1991 the structure of all clinical Departments has been reorganized by unifying academic and clinical structures according to the separate specialties. This is how the Department of Neurology was  established: it unified the academic staff with clinical units for adult and pediatric neurology. During the period of 1991 - 1996 the head of Neurology Department was docent V. Pauza, 1996 - 2006 - professor N.Vaičienė - Magistris, since 2006 up to now– habil. professor D. Rastenytė.

Research

Since 1991 thirteen doctoral thesis were prepared and defended in Neurology Department on the topics of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, headache, neuropatic pain, neuromuscular diseases, neurophysiological investigations, etc.

Presently 3 doctorants are in training.

During the period of 2005 – 2012  the staff of Neurological Department has published 361 papers, 56 in the journals included in the list of Institute of Scientific Information.

Ongoing research projects

• “Application of transcranial ultrasound investigations for the diagnostics of neurodegenerative diseases“.
• EC project “European Registries of Stroke – EROS” QLG4-CT-2002-01191;
• EC  6BP project “Highlighting the impact of headache in Europe” (EUROLIGHT), grant Nr. 2006110;
• EC 7BP project „Development of a European Implementation Score for measuring implementation of research into healthcare practice using vascular disease as an example“ (EIS);
• „Pain coping strategies following traffic accidents in Lithuania: can cultural, social and economical differencies explain the absence of whiplash disorders?” (cooperation with Carolinska Institute, Sweden);
• “Scientific research and development of innovative evidence based non-invasive brain diagnostic and monitoring solutions for neurological and TBI  patients” (Lithuanian – Swiss program).
• Molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (MALPAMA).
• European register of tuberous sclerosis;
• Lithuanian register of multiple sclerosis;

Academic studies

2013/14

Module of Clinical Neuroscience, part I „ Diseases of Nervous System“, 162 hours, 6 credits for students of Medical Faculty, 5th academic year (in Lithuanian and in English).

Five Departments are running this module and cover following specialities related with nervous diseases:

• Neurology -  90 hours, 3.33 credits
• Neurosurgery - 30 hours, 1.11 credits
• Rehabilitation - 20 hours, 0.74 credits
• Infectious Diseases - 18 hours, 0.67 credits
• Radiology -  4 hours, 0.15 credits

Post-graduate studies (residency)

Two residency programs are running since 2005. They were renewed and approved by Senate on 7 Jun 2013.  

• Neurology program 4 years;
• Pediatrics and Pediatric Neurology program – total 6 years (4 years of general pediatrics, 2 years of pediatric neurology).

21 residents are presently trained in Neurology and 4 in Pediatric Neurology programs.

Clinical service

Neurology Department provides secondary and tertiary level health service for neurological and pediatric neurological patients from all Lithuania. The yearly turnover is about 20 000 consultations for adult patients and 5000 for pediatric patients. In- patient units are for adult neurology (68 beds) with yearly admission of  about 2400 patients and for pediatric neurology (28 beds) with yearly admission of about 1400 patients. Two centers for rare disorders has been established in 2013: the Center of Phacomatosis and the Center of Pediatric Neuromuscular Diseases.

Contacts

About us

The first division of neurosurgery in Lithuania was established in 1951 in the Department of General Surgery in Kaunas Clinics. It had 30 beds. In 1963 a new block with 3 Neurosurgical departments for treatment of brain trauma, neurooncology and spinal neurosurgery was opened. In 1980 new building for Neurosurgery was opened and the Neurosurgery department expanded up to 240 beds with 18 beds of Neurosurgery Intensive care unit. In 1982 Kaunas Neurosurgery department became the National Center of Neurosurgery.

Currently Department of Neurosurgery consists of four divisions:

• Division of neurotraumatology
• Division of spine and peripheral nerves surgery
• Division of pediatric neurosurgery
• Division of brain surgery with 4 subdivisions:
• Neurooncology
• Vascular surgery
• Functional and stereotactic neurosurgery
• Skull base surgery

Neurosurgery department provides the highest quality service for patients from all regions of Lithuania. Patients who choose our Department benefit from our experience and the most advanced medical care available. Our neurosurgeons are leaders in highly specialised areas as neurooncology, cerebrovascular disorders (aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations), brain and spinal cord tumors, microvascular compression disorders (trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm), cerebral revascularization , skull base tumors (acoustic neuromas, meningiomas), peripheral nerve surgery and degenerative disorders of the spine, functional and stereotactic neurosurgery. Our pediatric neurosurgery division, which is the only one in Lithuania, offers a range of pediatric care for trauma-related injuries, as well as treatments for complex tumors, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), hydrocephalus etc. Neurosurgery department is well equipped with modern surgical technology and devices: intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), transportable head CT scan, neuro-navigation systems, neuro-endoscopy, water jet, neuro-echoskopy and  intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring systems. Neurosurgeons perform deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat Parkinson's disease and others movement disorders. Neurosurgeons collaborate with ENT, plastic surgeons, cardiosurgeons, ophthalmologists, maxillofacial surgeons while operating some complicated cases. Part of patients with vascular diseases are treated together with interventional radiologists by endovascular coiling and other endovascular procedures.

Neurosurgery department consists of 131 beds.  Health care is delivered according to European standards, evidence-based medicine is provided by highly qualified medical staff. The highest quality of health care is available to patients from all the country and abroad. Regarding competence of our staff, high qualification and selfless work using progressive methods of treatment, the most complicated diseases are diagnosed and cured. Application of new investigation technologies optimizes patient treatment, allows the performance of most complex surgeries. Close to 3500 surgeries annually are performed in the Neurosurgery department.

Since 2016 Department of Neurosurgery of LUHS Hospital collaborates in the European reference network for rare adult cancers (solid tumours), subgroup Brain tumours (EURACAN).

Studies

Students have the unique opportunity to obtain practical skills by having access to the largest neurosurgical clinical base in Lithuania. The activities of the Neurosurgery department encompasses practical and scientific medicine, education of students and residents, continuing professional training of medical specialist. Since 1993 neurosurgeons defended 16 doctoral dissertations and one habilitation work. Most of them were well-rated by neurosurgeons from foreign university clinics (Harvard, West Berlin, Nagoya and others). Neurosurgery department of LUHS was evaluated by Joint Residency Advisory and Accreditation Committee (JRAAC) consisting of European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) and European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) members and granted full accreditation as fulfilling European standards of Excellence in education in Neurosurgery (see Table 1). Fifth grade medical students of  Faculty of Medicine of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LUHS) have   course of Neurosurgery with lectures and practice work. Medical training courses for doctors are led by approved programs of LUHS (see table 2). Residents from other specialities: orthopedic surgeons, surgeons, pediatric surgeons, neurologists, pediatric neurologists, psychiatrists are taught by approved residency program. The modern library which contains a number of medical periodical journals and books was established in the Neurosurgery department. In this specialized library students and residents can get practical work and improve microsurgical skills. Neurosurgical operations can be monitored through an image transmission system ISIS (France).

	Study program
	Study program

Research

Neurosurgery department of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LUHS) collaborates with Neuroscience Institute and especially with the laboratory of Neurooncology and genetics. Since 2003 the Laboratory of Neurooncology and genetics has been carrying out scientific research on the following issue “Etiopathogenesis and molecular biomarkers of CNS Tumors: the Optimisation of Diagnosing and Treatment”. The main trends of research work are as follows: the analysis of epidemiological factors of CNS tumors and studies of clinical, etiopathogenetic, radiological factors, which play a decisive role in the course of disease. In addition to basic research, clinical trials of brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries, spinal and peripherial nerve injuries are conducted. The ongoing studies are increasingly supported by the genetic and clinical analysis of the brain tumor specimens, which are stored in the extensive Brain tissue biobank. The combination between clinic and scientific units, being unique in Lithuania, meets the organizational structure of the world’s most prominent clinics where neurosurgeons together with scientists develop scientific activities and education of students. This gives an opportunity for close cooperation between international science institutes and universities, thereby reinforcing the significance of Neurosurgery department as an informal neurosurgery center in Lithuania. 

Lithuanian University of Health Sciences

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Adress: Eivenių g. 2, Kaunas
Tel. nr. (8-37) 326827, 326927, 326701 

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology was founded in 1922 by Professor Pranas Mažylis. In the early years after its foundation, the department was located in the Red Cross Hospital . In 1942, it was relocated to the grounds of the newly built university hospital. And then in 1972, it was relocated to a newly built compound especially designed for the needs of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic.

Today the Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology is the leading center for perinatology and gynecologic surgery. It is a tertiary level referral center accommodating patients from all over Lithuania. The Clinic is composed of an Out Patient Department, Obstetrics Department, Delivery Department and Gynecology Departments. Each department in turn is subdivided into divisions, each specializing in a certain field.

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is an important structure in the university hospital being the largest tertiary level referral centre for learning, research and treatment in obstetrics and gynecology in Lithuania.

Each year around 350 students from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences undergo a part of their undergraduate studies in the department. The department also organizes various postgraduate courses for specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology as a part of CME. It hosts training sessions and courses not only for local doctors, but the clinic is always open for visiting specialists from other countries, especially from Russian speaking countries post Soviet Countries Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaidjan. It has become a tradition to invite various renowned authorities in Obstetrics and Gynecology, to give lectures or presentations in our local and international meetings.

The Clinic is also the setting of various research projects, with many of its specialists acting as consultants for PhD students. The main areas of research include: high risk pregnancies and deliveries, diagnosing and optimizing treatment modalities of gynecologic and oncogynecologic diseases, in addition novel methods for diagnosing and treating endometriosis.

Head of Department

Prof. Rūta Jolanta Nadišauskienė

Tel. nr. (8-37) 327132
E-mail: ruta.nadisauskiene@lsmuni.lt 
Room No. 2001

Administrators

Ieva Andriejaitė 
E-mail: ieva.andriejaite@lsmuni.lt

Donata Rekašiūtė
E-mail: donata.rekasiute@lsmuni.lt

Austėja Urbonaitė
E-mail: austeja.urbonaite@lsmuni.lt

Room no. 5013

Tel. nr. (8-37) 326 994

Department of obstetrics

Sector of  pregnancy complicating diseases

Head – assoc.prof. Vladas Gintautas

The sector provides examination and treatment for patients with diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes and other pregnancy complicating diseases (cardiovascular, kidney, thyroid, lungs). All the up to date fetal wellbeing assessment is provided in case of multiple pregnancy and its complications, the maternity and fetal observation and treatment plan is presented in detailed recommendations for the pregnancy and delivery.  In the cases of fetal hypotrophy and prolonged pregnancy continuous monitoring is provided (cardiotocogaphy, ultrasound and doplerometry). After diagnosing a twin transfusion syndrome and iniciating a primary examination we organize transfer of pregnant women to other European hospitals for the lasertherapy. In cases of breach presentation an external fetal version is peformed. Women with these pathologies and their newborns are also observed after delivery. Students and residents have possibility to learn prenatal care and treatment peculiarities, to observe fetal wellbeing assessment and it’s interpretation, to visit pregnant women before and after delivery, to participate in visitations, to assist during caesarean section. Resident doctors are trained and supervised by experienced doctors and have the opportunity to perform most of the pregnant women antenatal care tasks and to accomplish fetal wellbeing assessment, also to participate in the treatment process.                              

Obstetrics pathology sector

Head – assoc.prof. Regina Mačiulevičienė

Patients with hypertensive disorders, Rh incompatibility and isoimmunisation, bleeding during pregnancy, fetal growth restriction, prolonged or  multigestational pregnancy, pregnancies with breach presentation are managed in this sector. The majority of the patients here are followed after birth together  with their newborns. Students and residents working in this sector have the opportunity to learn the treatment and monitoring plans for high-risk pregnant patients, to assess fetal status by analyzing cardiotocography, ultrasound and doplerometry data of fetus and placenta. Students, residents, postgraduate courses participants not only participate in the pregnancy and fetal pathology examintation, assesement of clinical diagnosis and treatment process, but may also observe and assist during the planned caesarean section operations or other procedures.

Preterm birth and prenatal infection sector

Head -  prof. Meilė Minkauskienė

The sector employs an associate professor and two lecturers, who are supervising the studies of obstetrics and gynecology residents and the family practice residents, clinical skills are acquired by the students studying at LUHS and other universities, as well as clinical practice under exchange programs is performed. Under the leadership of the lecturers of this sector, students and residents carry out research work on preterm labor, preterm rupture of membranes, infection in obstetrics and gynecology and other.

LUHS Obstetrics and Gynecology Delivery department

Head – prof. Mindaugas Kliučinskas

LUHS Obstetrics and Gynecology Delivery department manages deliveries of women with low or

high risk. There are seven wards ensuring safe and comfortable environment for deliveries, also an

operating room for emergency caesarean sections or other necessary operations. There is a Neonatal

intensive care and resuscitation department next to the Delivery department. This makes it possible

for low risk pregnancies to give birth in a cozy, family orientated atmosphere, and at the same time in

case of high risk pregnancies - ensure a prompt, highly competent and safe care for the delivering

women, the fetus or the newborn.

There are facilities for LUHS and other students of medical training institutions, allowing access

for  observation of deliveries in low risk (supervised by midwives only) and high risk (supervised by

a team of specialists) pregnancies. This sector gives an opportunity to watch and become like a team

member. Under the given consent of the family, we allow for one student to observe the delivery

process, assist the family and staff.

Most importantly, students are able to see how the theoretical knowledge is followed by the

practice.                                   

Department of Gynaecology

Oncogynecology sector

Head – prof. Daiva Vaitkienė

Pre cancer diseases and cancer patients are investigated and treated in Oncogynecology sector using the latest diagnostic techniques and minimally invasive surgical approach.

During the studying process at this sector students are acquainted with the diagnosis and treatment of gynecological cancer and premalignant disease (cervical dysplasia, uterine and ovarian neoplasia). Students and fellow doctors have the opportunity not only to actively participate in the process of investigation and treatment of patients and to observe operations, but also to assist experienced professionals during the surgeries. Students have the opportunity to participate in weekly interdisciplinary patient discussions involving pathologists, oncologists, chemotherapists, radiotherapists, diagnostic radiology and other professionals, where not only complex rare and complicated clinical cases are discussed, but also the treatment and monitoring plan is made for each woman with oncological disease. Students, residents, postgraduate and internship doctors also individual participants study and deepen their knowledge at the Oncogynecology sector.

Minimally invasive and plastic gynecology sector

Head – assoc.prof. Dalia Regina Railaitė

Minimally invasive and plastic gynecology sector treats patients suffering from a wide range of gynecological pathology. This sector covers the specific areas of pelvic floor dysfunction treatment, such as prolapse of the genital organs and urinary incontinence. Students have a possibility to see patients with uterine and vaginal prolapse testing and surgical treatment, as well as a range of modern operations for urinary incontinence. A minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery and hysteroscopic operations for a majority of acute and chronic genital diseases are also performed in this sector. Students can observe the endoscopic uterine myoma, polyps, ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy and other diagnostic and therapeutic operations beeing perfermed.            

Women's reproductive health sector

Head – assoc.prof. Valdemaras Kruminis

Women's reproductive health sector focuses on the management of the menstrual cycle disorders and abnormal uterine bleeding through adolescence to premenopausal age, manages fertility disorders and complications occuring after assisted reproductive technology procedures, concentrates on early pregnancy pathology cases (such as ectopic pregnancy, bunted ovum, spontaneous abortion, trophoblastic disease). There are facilities to acquire diagnosis and differential diagnosis skills of the above mentioned pathologies, aslo to learn the diagnostical and treatment interventions and methodologies of endoscopic (hysteroscopy, laparoscopy) operations.

Septic Gynecology sector

Head  - prof. Rūta Jolanta Nadišauskienė

Septic Gynecology sector is engaged in the treatment of patients with pelvic inflammatory disease, gynecological origin of peritonitis and sepsis, postpartum infectious complications.

The sector provides an opportunity for the students to participate in the process of examination and treatment of patients, to observe an interdisciplinary cooperation with surgeons physicians, microbiologists, ultrasonography, interventional radiology doctors and others. A distinctive feature of this sector is disease management under strict clinical criteria and adequate antibiotic treatment. The ailing mothers have excellent conditions for treatment and at the same time taking care of a healthy newborn with the support and help of the family members. In addition to conservative treatment a variety of operational interventions are carried out by experienced clinicians with assistance of residents, facilities to observe operations are enabled for the students and family physicians residents

LUHS KC Woman consultation

Administrator – prof. Rosita Aniulienė

LUHS KC Woman consultation provides tertial level specialized counseling services in the fields of oncogynecology, high-risk pregnancies, infertility, endocrine and urogynecology. Antenatal genetic counseling and immediate emergency assistance is also provided. During the year, 44 doctors consult about 30,000 patients and perform about 1,800 outpatient surgeries. The family medicine, dermatovenereology specialty residents and specialty skills appraising doctors are also learning here and acquiring practical skills in obstetrics and gynecology. Students collect material from the outpatient case histories for their students scientific paper presentations.

Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine
Lithuanian University of health sciences
Address: Mickevičiaus Str. 9, LT-44307 Kaunas
Phone +370 37 326558
Fax: (8 37) 326146
E-mail: akiu.ligu.klinika@kaunoklinikos.lt

Head – Prof. Reda ŽEMAITIENĖ, MD, Ph.D.

Mission:

To provide highly qualified ophthalmological service in accordance with international standards, to carry out and improve ophthalmology studies, to develop scientific activities, interdisciplinary cooperation with other departments and university researchers, to ensure the improvement of qualification of the medical staff.

Objectives

 • To develop modern and socially responsible care for patients with eye diseases and to ensure the highest level of       assistance in the most complicated clinical cases

• To create and develop evidence-based innovations

• To conduct and improve studies by mastering the knowledge of ophthalmology

• To participate in scientific activities

• To effectively use the available human and material resources

• To educate ambitious and continuously improving healthcare professionals

Historical overview

The roots of the Department of Ophthalmology date back to 1922 when professor Petras Avižonis founded in the newly established Vytautas Magnus University. Since then, the Department of Ophthalmology has come a long way and become a modern hospital of ophthalmology. Professor  Avižonis was the Head of the Department until 1939. After the professor's death, his son V. Avižonis took over the management of the Department (until 1944), later the Department of Ophthalmology was headed by J. Nemeikša until 1958. Professor Emilija Daktaravičiene performed a special role in the development of the Department of Ophthalmology. She chaired the department from 1958 to 1989 and established excellent clinical foundation and trained a whole generation of ophthalmologists. In 1976, prof. E. Daktaravičienė, Assoc. prof. A. Valentinienė and doctor L. Matukonienė established a new Department of Ophthalmology. The most famous ophthalmologists, such as prof. A. Blužienė, assoc. prof. M. Tornau, assoc. prof. I. Vaškelienė, assoc. Prof. V. Barzdžiukas, prof. A. Paunksnis worked in the department. In 2002, the first Donor Fund for Eyes in the Baltic States was established in the department. From 1989 to 2017, the Department of Ophthalmology was headed by prof. Vytautas Jašinskas. Since 2017, the Department has been headed by prof. R. Žemaitienė.

Research

Since 2009, eleven scientific theses have been defended in LSMU Department of Ophthalmology. At present, twelve doctoral students are in training.

During the period of 2013-2017, the staff of the Department of Ophthalmology published 543 articles in medical journals, 56 of which in the Clarivate Analytics Journal Citation Reports database, and referred to in international medical databases. In 2013-2017, 7 monographs and professional books in ophthalmology were published.

 The most significant research projects were the following: “Realization of Medical Physics and Nanophotonics Studies” (EU Structural Funds), "The introduction of evidence-based diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma using innovative non-invasive measurements of intracranial pressure and ocular blood flow" (EU global grant), "New molecular prognostic markers search in patients with  pituitary adenoma and association with visual functions“ (Research Council of Lithuania), “Analysis of biomarkers, discovered by research using S. pombe, in human blood”. (a project with Japanese (OIST)). (Collaboration with LSMUL KC, Ophthalmology department), “Common prognostic molecular markers search in patients with age-related macular degeneration and ischemic heart disease” (Research Council of Lithuania)

 The main directions of scientific activity: investigation of immunogenetic and metabolic markers in the patients with age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and corneal diseases, phenotype of the inflammatory disease of the optic nerve and its relation to molecular markers; relation of visual function and immunogenetic markers with the morphology of pituitary adenoma; relation of pseudoexfoliation syndrome with ischemic heart disease and oxidative stress; assessment of efficacy of new different cataract surgery methods; identification and adjustment of new innovative diagnostic and treatment methods in glaucoma, as well as assessment of the association between glaucoma and other neurodegenerative diseases.

 Ongoing research projects

 “Healthy and patients with age-related macular degeneration new genetic and metabolic markers search”.Headed by prof. V. Deltuva MD, Ph.D., Investigators: assoc. prof. R. Liutkevičienė MD, Ph.D. and dr. L. Kriaučiūnienė MD, Ph.D. 2015-2018 (funded by Lithuanian Science Council)

 “Association of pseudoexfoliation syndrome’s clinical features with ischemic heart disease and oxidative stress ". Headed by prof. G. Bernotienė MD, Ph.D., Investigators: M. Špečkauskas MD, Ph.D., U. Rumelaitienė MD, 2015-2018 (funded by Lithuanian Science Council)

 "The influence of clinical, genetic and environmental risks on the pathogenesis of the development of Late Diabetic Complications of Type 1 Diabetes" Headed by prof. R. Verkauskienė MD, Ph.D. 2013-2023 (funded by Lithuanian Science Council)

Academic Studies

 The module of Clinical Neuroscience, part II (Eye, ear, nose, throat, and maxillofacial diseases).Ophthalmology 6 credits, 60 hours for students of Medical Faculty, 6^th academic year  (in Lithuanian and English languages MF/AK/M-V18 Modulus and MF/AK/M-U14 Modulus)

Students have the possibility of extending their knowledge in Ophthalmology by choosing a 3-week elective course in the 6^th academic year (4 credits, 107 hours) (in Lithuanian and English languages MF/AK/M-V28 Modulus and MF/AK/M-U11 Modulus).

Students also obtain experience in research work by Master thesis Preparation and presentation of elective scientific work (3 credits in Lithuanian and English languages, modulus MF/AK/M-V26 and MF/AK/M-U14) and/or by participating in the activities of the Section of Ophthalmology in the Student Scientific Association.

Post-graduate studies (residency)

At present, there are 23 residents in the  Department of Ophthalmology.

 Programme "Ophthalmology" 733A30076

The duration of residency in ophthalmology is 3 years (198 ECTS credits).

The program is prepared taking into account LR legal acts, European Parliament and Council Directive 2005/36/EB, European Ophthalmologist Council, EBO (European Board of Ophthalmology) recommendations for Ophthalmologist preparation (Principles and Guidelines of a curriculum for Education of the Ophthalmic Specialist. Presented by International Task Force on Resident and Specialist Education in Ophthalmology. (Nov.2006, Page S1-S48, Vol. 223)) and requirements for preparations of Ophthalmologist by European Union of Medicine Specialists. (European Union of Medical Specialists. Charter on Training of Medical Specialists in the EU. Section of Ophthalmology. UEMS 2009. Website access: http://www.uems-ofthalmology.org/.

The Department of Ophthalmology of the Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences was accreditated by Consilium Europeum Ophthalmologiae in 2010 and reaccredited in 2017.

 Regular 3-year study (198 credits)

Ist year (66 credits)

Ophthalmic methods of eye examination (18 credits)

Pediatrics ophthalmology (24 credits)

Inflammatory pathology of the anterior segment of eye (24 credits)

II st year (66 credits)

Non-inflammatory pathology of the anterior segment of eye (42 credits)

Glaucoma (24 credits)

 IIIst year (66 credits)

Diseases of orbit, ophthalmooncology, oculoplasty (6 credits)

Pathology of the posterior segment of eye is (36 credits)

Eye trauma (12 credits)

Neuroophthalmology (6 credits)

 Elective course (6 credits)

Laser technologies for the diagnosis of optic nerve pathology

Imaging studies for retinal pathology

Ocular emergencies

 Eye clinic participates in residency study programs in other clinics of LSMU:

733A30075 “ Eye diseases“ family medicine study program for residents (6 credits)

733A300A7 “ Ocular emergencies“ Emergency medicine study program for residents (6 credits)

733A30055 “Ocular allergies” Allergology and clinical immunology study program for residents (6 credits)

733A30093“Pediatric Ophthalmology” pediatrics study program for residents (6 credits)

The Department of Ophthalmology has the following further training for doctors ophthalmologists (in Lithuanian):

Inflammatory diseases of the orbit;

Ocular diseases for general practitioners;

Modern cataract surgery in adult and pediatric patients;

Peculiarities of diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma in adult and pediatric patients;

Graves ophthalmopathy;

Modern diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma;

Non-infectious ocular diseases in elderly patients;

Diseases of cornea and uveal tract;

Ultrasonography of eye and orbit;

Update on diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases;

Ocular trauma.

Clinical service

Department is the largest eye disease diagnostic and treatment center in Lithuania. The department consists of the Eye Consultative-Diagnostic Unit (outpatient department) (headed by prof. I. Janulevičienė MD, PhD), Department of Children's Eye Diseases (headed by assoc. prof.  A. Gelžinis MD, Ph.D.), One-day Surgical Division (prof. D. Žaliūnienė MD, Ph.D.) and Inpatient Department of Adult Eye Diseases (headed by D. Stanislovaitienė MD, Ph.D.). There are several specified sections established in order to improve the quality and provide better care in different fields of ophthalmology: Cataract, Glaucoma and Laser Surgery Sector (headed by prof. D. Žaliūnienė MD, Ph.D.); Vitreoretinal Surgery Sector (headed by A. Miliauskas MD), Cornea and Uveitis Sector (headed by prof. R. Žemaitienė MD, Ph.D.), Ocular Oncology, Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery Sector (headed by G. Miniauskienė MD, Ph.D.), Retina Diseases Sector (headed by assoc. prof. J. V. Balčiūnienė MD, Ph.D.); Strabismus and Neuroophthalmology Sector (headed by assoc. prof. A. Gelžinis MD, Ph.D.).

 The Department of Ophthalmology provides secondary and tertiary level ophthalmological services to children and adults from all Lithuania. The annual turnover is about 88,000 visits of adult patients and about 11 000 of children and more than 11 000 patients are treated in the different departments. The Department of Ophthalmology carries out intensive surgical work (more than 18 000 surgical procedures per year: cataract, glaucoma, vitreoretinal, corneal transplantations, keratoprosthesis, strabismus surgery, intravitreal injections, etc.). Here are treated and operated the most seriously-ill patients from all over Lithuania and other foreign countries, including all the ophthalmooncological patients of the country.

In 2017, the Department of Ophthalmology of Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno Klinikos  was granted  European Reference Network membership in ERN-EYE (Rare Eye Diseases), 

Center of Rare Ophthalmological Diseases

Head assoc. prof.A. Gelžinis, MD, Ph.D. -fields of interest: rare eye diseases in children and adults.

The expert responsible for rare retinal diseases – assoc. prof V.J. Balčiūnienė, MD, Ph.D.

The expert responsible for rare anterior segment diseases -  prof. R. Žemaitienė,  MD, Ph.D.

The expert responsible for rare pediatric eye diseases –  assoc. prof. A. Gelžinis, MD, Ph.D.

The expert responsible for rare neuro-ophthalmological diseases – B. Glebauskienė, MD, Ph.D.

 Membership in professional organizations

The staff of the Department of Ophthalmology are members of different professional organizations such as Lithuanian Ophthalmological Society; Lithuanian Glaucoma Society; European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE); European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), European Association for Vision and Eye Research (EVER); American Academy of Ophthalmology. The pedagogical staff takes part in the European Board Examination in Ophthalmology (EBO) as examiners.

Prof. R. Žemaitienė MD, Ph.D.

Member of international, expert-led consensus initiative  on Fundamentals Of Care in UveitiS (FOCUS)

Prof. I.Janulevičienė MD, Ph.D.

Member of World Health Organization Ophthalmology Topic Advisory Group contributing to the revision of the International Classification of Diseases 11th edition

European Society of Ophthalmology – Board member

European Glaucoma Society – Executive Board member

Prof. V. Jašinskas MD, Ph.D.

Representative of Lithuania in EBO

Leadership in different professional organizations

Assoc. prof. V. J. Balčiūnienė, MD, Ph.D. - chairman of the Lithuanian Ophthalmological Society

Prof. I. Janulevičienė, MD, Ph.D. - chairman of the Lithuanian Glaucoma Society

E. Puodžiuvienė, MD, Ph.D. - chairman of Kaunas Ophthalmology Club

prof. J. Jankauskienė, MD, Ph.D. – president of the Lithuanian Apitherapy

Main contacts

Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine

Lithuanian University of health sciences

Eivenių Str. 2, Kaunas 50161, Lithuania

Telephone No. 370 37 32 6558, fax. No.+370 37 326146

E-mail: akiu.ligu.klinika@kaunoklinikos.lt

Head of the Department of Ophthalmology: Professor Reda ŽEMAITIENĖ, MD, Ph.D.

Telephone No. +370 37 327064

E-mail: reda.zemaitiene@lsmuni.lt 

Room No. 236

Professor

Dalia ŽALIŪNIENĖ, MD, Ph.D.,

Telephone No.+370 37 326770

E-mail.: dalia.zaliuniene@kaunoklinikos.lt

Room No. 336

Professor

Ingrida JANULEVIČIENĖ MD, Ph.D.,

Telephone No.+370 37 326760

E-mail: ingrida.januleviciene@lsmuni.lt

Room No. 239

 Professor

Jūratė JANKAUSKIENĖ MD, Ph.D.,

Telephone No. +370 37 326019

E-mail: jur.jankausk@gmail.com

Room No. 133

Professor

Rasa LIUTKEVIČIENĖ, MD, Ph.D.,

Telephone No.+370 37 326991

E-mail: rasa.liutkeviciene@lsmuni.lt

Room No. 214

Professor

Vytautas JAŠINSKAS MD, Ph.D, Habil. Dr.,

Telephone No.+370 37 327095

E-mail. vytautas.jasinskas@kaunoklinikos.lt.lt

Room No. 245

Assoc. professor

dr. Vilma Jūratė BALČIŪNIENĖ, MD, Ph.D.,

Telephone No.+370 37 326635

E-mail: jurate.balciuniene@lsmu.lt

Room No. 152

Assoc. professor

dr. Arvydas GELŽINIS MD, Ph.D.,

Telephone No.+370 37 326201

E-mail: arvydas.gelzinis@lsmuni.lt

Room No. 352

Assoc. professor

dr. Loreta KUZMIENĖ, MD, Ph.D.,

Telephone No.+370 37 326776

E-mail: loreta.kuzmiene@lsmuni.lt

Room No. 246

Assoc. professor

Daiva STANISLOVAITIENĖ MD, Ph.D.,
Telephone No.+370 37 326157
E-mail: daiva.stanislovaitiene@kaunoklinikos.lt

Room No. 434

Lector

dr. Dovilė BUTEIKIENĖ MD, Ph.D.,

Telephone No.+370 37 326756

E-mail: dovile.buteikiene@lsmuni.lt

Room No. 187

Lector

dr. Dalia JARUŠAITIENĖ MD, Ph.D.,

Telephone No.+370 37 326698

E-mail: arvydas.gelzinis@lsmuni.lt

Room No. 352

Lector

dr.Brigita GLEBAUSKIENĖ MD, Ph.D.,

Telephone No.+370 37 326535

E-mail: brigita.glebauskiene@lsmuni.lt

Room No. 240

Lector

Goda MINIAUSKIENĖ MD, Ph.D.,

Telephone No.+370 37 326635

E-mail: goda.miniauskiene@lsmuni.lt

Room No. 152

Lector

Edita PUODŽIUVIENĖ MD, Ph.D.,

Telephone No.+370 37 326315

E-mail: edita.puodziuviene@lsmuni.lt
Room No. 237

Lector

Martynas ŠPEČKAUSKAS, MD, Ph.D.,

Telephone No. +370 37 326686

E-mail: martynas.speckauskas@lsmuni.lt

Room No. 237

 Study administrator 

Tamara IVANAUSKIENĖ

Telephone No. +370 37 326558

E-mail: tamara.ivanauskiene@lsmuni.lt

Room No. 236

About us

Clinic of Orthopaedics and traumatology presents opportunities for students to learn about the latest developments in trauma diagnostics and orthopaedic surgery. We share our knowledge with students in different courses and enhance the qualification during theirs resident ship. Our clinic has a good theoretical and clinical background as it is a centre for various musculoskeletal diseases and complex trauma cases treatment.

Students obtain practical skills at LSMU Hospital, the largest hospital in the Baltic countries. In LSMU Hospital, Clinic of Orthopaedics and traumatology has two departments: Orthopaedic surgery department – 60 beds and Polytrauma department – 25 beds. There are 21 orthopaedic surgeons, 11of them has a PhD. They perform:

• Hip, knee, ankle, shoulder and elbow arthroplasties including primary conventional, resurfacing, minimally invasive, unicondylar as well as revision and total femur arthroplasties.
• Arthroscopical surgeries such as: shoulder Bankart, Latarjet, Bristow surgeries, rotator cuff, clavicle luxation reconstruction, knee anterior and posterior cruciate ligament, posterolateral and medial complex, patellar instability, ankle ligament reconstruction, autograft transfer procedure or autologous chondrocyte implantation, meniscus transplantation, latissimus dorsi transposition, Osgood-Sfhlater and Haglund disease arthroscopical resections.
• Other surgeries in acute/poly trauma or pseudoarthrosis, oncology, bone infection cases, deformity corrections.

Studies

In medicine programme we have different courses:

• For the first course students -  there is “First aid” course,
• For the second course students – “Movement” module,
• For the fourth course students – “Pathology and musculoskeletal systems” module,
• For the sixth course students – “Elective scientific work”.

Research

Orthopaedic surgeons are active in scientific research, has published many publications in well-known orthopaedic journals, i.e. Journal of Arthroplasty; Acta Orthopaedica; Hip International; International Orthopaedics; BMC Musculoskelet Disorders; Orthopedics; Foot&Ankle International; Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; Arthroscopy and others.

In 2011 Clinic of Orthopaedics and traumatology has founded and administrates Lithuanian total joint arthroplasty register. In 2011 COT has introduced “Fast track” program in proximal femur fracture care. There are many scientific research projects organized in Clinic of Orthopaedics and traumatology, presently concentrated in soft tissue repair after total hip arthroplasty, biomechanical muscle properties after total knee arthroplasty and cartilage regeneration opportunities.

Contacts

About us

The first Department of Otorhinolaryngology in Lithuania was established in Kaunas in 1924. On October 6 th., 1924 the Senate of Medical Faculty elected prof. P. Radzvickas the first chairman of the Department. At this time the basic concept of contemporary University Otorhinolaryngology Department was established: regimented patient treatment, studies and research.

The second chairman of the Department was prof. J. Zubkus. He was the first physician in Lithuania who introduced bronchoscopy and esophagoscopy. In 1939 Hospital of Medical Faculty of Vytautas Magnus University was built and Department moved to the new place, remaining here up to present. In 1944 prof. J. Zubkus emigrated to USA and was replaced by assoc. prof. S. Žilinskas. In 1957 he established the Lithuanian Otorhinolaryngologic Society. Assoc. prof. S. Žilinskas was the author of the first textbook “Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat” in Lithuania. Assoc. prof. B. Gapanavičius was the chairman of the Department from 1965 to 1972. He was the first physician in Baltic countries who started stapedoplasty. From 1972 to 1978, the chairman of the Department was assoc. prof. A. Kišonas.  In 1978 Department of Otorhinolaryngology was affiliated to the Department of Ophthalmology and was headed by prof. E. Daktaravičienė (till 1988) and assoc. prof. V. Jašinskas (from 1988 to 1990). In 1990 Department of Otorhinolaryngology became separate again and was headed by assoc. prof. K.Povilaitis (1990-2006). Since 2006 till the present time, the chairman of Department of Otorhinolaryngology is prof. V. Ulozas.

At the present Department of Otorhinolaryngology enjoys the privilege being the largest and the most advanced ENT department in Lithuania. Department provides highly qualified medical services for the patients from all Lithuania and abroad countries.  Our physicians warrant expert clinical care in the fields of Otology/Neurotology, Endoscopic Functional Sinus and Skull Base Surgery, Head and Neck Cancer Treatment, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Phonosurgery, management of Swallowing Disorders, Sleep and Snoring Disorders and Pediatric Otolaryngology.  Our goal remains to be the leading department of Otorhinolaryngology in the country on the basis of excellence in patient care, residents training and education, basic and clinical research, developing creative and innovative diagnostic and treatment modalities for our patients.  

Studies

Studies of Otorhinolaryngology involve students of Medical and Odontology Faculties. Pedagogical staff of the Department consists of:  prof.V.Ulozas, 3 assoc. professors (I.Ulozienė, R.Pribuišienė, and S.Vaitkus), 5 lectors (G.Alzbutienė, T.Balsevičius, M.Kašėta, V.Liutkevičius, S.Balseris) and 8 assistants. Every year 30 student groups of Medical Faculty and 15 student groups attend lectures and classes at our Department.

The problem based learning of Otorhinolaryngology for the 6^th year medical students is included into program of Clinical Module of Neurosciences. (“Basics of Eye, ENT and Maxillofacial diseases”).  Duration of the module – 3 weeks.  The 6^th year students has the possibility to improve their knowledge in Otorhinolaryngology attending the elective cycle “Conventional and Emergency Aid in Otolaryngology”.

The 4^th year students of Odontolgy Facultyattend the program “Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat”.

Research

Department of Otorhinolaryngology performs basic and clinical research in various fields of Otorhinolaryngology taking part in different national and international scientific projects on a) “Neonatal hearing screening by otoacoustic emissions”, b) telemedicine (Litmed) and IT (Baltic MedWeb), c) “Potential adverse effects of GSM Cellular phones on hearing”.

The latest international scientific projects are as follows:

• EC Health and Consumer Protection Directoriate-General project “Exposure at UMTS electromagnetic fields: study on potential adverse effects on hearing (EMFnEAR)”
• 2004 -2007                                             
• EUREKA project E!3681 “A computer-aided decision support system for diagnosis of laryngeal diseases INFOLARYNX“.   2006 -2009.
• COST Action 2103 „Advanced Vocal Function Assessment“ .  2006-2011
• “Detection of pathological Voices” in collaboration with the IBM Haifa Research Lab; Israel.  2010-2012.
• „Genetic Susceptibility to Papilloma-induced Voice Disturbance” in collaboration with  Allegheny-Singer Research Institute, Center for Genomic Sciences, Pittsburg University, USA.   Since 2010
• “Global HPV-6 and HPV-11 genomic diversity” in collaboration with Ljubljana University, Slovenia.  Since 2012
• “Formation and properties of intercellular tunneling nanotubes” in collaboration with Cellular Culture Lab. (LUHS). Granted by Lithuanian Scientific Council. Since 2012.

Contacts

VŠĮ Kauno klinikos, Eivenių g. 2, LT-50009 Kaunas 

Phone. (+370 37) 327078, fax (+370 37) 327078, e-mail vaiku.chirurgijos.klinika@kaunoklinikos.lt

The head - Prof. Vidmantas BARAUSKAS

Phone: (+370 37) 326043

Study administrator Vita Martinkevičienė

Phone: (+370 37) 32 60 48

Pediatric Surgery department – the head  Prof. Vidmantas Barauskas

Vidmantas Barauskas  graduated from the Kaunas Institute of Medicine in 1978 and was appointed a nosocomial surgical trainee in the Kaunas Institute of Medicine. Since 1981 he has been working in pediatric surgery at Kaunas Clinics, in 1986 he was designated the head of the Pediatric Surgery Unit and from the year of 1996 –has been  elected as the head of the Pediatric Surgery Department. In 1992 he was awarded the highest category of a pediatric surgeon. In 1997 he defended his dissertation "Surgical treatment indications and techniques of chest wall deformities” and in 2000 he was granted the title of associate professor. In 2005 he carried out habilitation procedures " Surgical treatment tactics and results of congenital anomalies and diseases” and became a professor, in 2007 awarded the title of academic professor.
Since 2012 he has been a visiting professor in the Pediatric Surgery Clinic in Riga Sradins University.
He is a multidisciplinary pediatric surgeon, who performs the general pediatric surgery, urology and thoracic surgery operations. He specializes more in congenital neonatal gastrointestinal surgery and chest wall deformity surgery. He is the initiator of Nuss'o method of chest wall deformity surgery in Lithuania. He performs more than 300 operations in a year.

Pediatric surgeons:
Prof.V.Barauskas
Ass.prof..R.Bagdzevičius
V.Jazdauskienė
Ass.prof.A.Kilda
Ass.prof..D.Malcius
Dr.A.Palepšaitis
G.Trumpulytė
A.Lukošiūtė-Urbonienė
S.Ivanova
J.Gailienė
P.Valatka
K.Jankauskaitė - Urniežienė

All the necessary pediatric surgery, orthopedic and traumatology as well as burn surgery operations are performed in the department.
The clinic is a center of chest wall deformity surgery in Lithuania. Since 2003, the surgeons of the clinic are the only ones in Lithuania that perform the minimally invasive Nuss operation for chest wall deformities.
Pediatric surgeons are pioneers in video endoscopic surgery (since 1996) and leaders in Lithuania, who currently perform “one-trocar laparoscopy ".
Pediatric surgeons are pioneers of urinary incontinence (1995) and intersex (since 1998) corrective surgery in Lithuania.
Pediatric orthopedic surgeons are pioneers in using the Ponsee method in treating foot deformities and support it in Lithuania.
Pediatric orthopedic surgeons – traumatologists the leaders in using is arthroscopy and mixed trauma treatment in Lithuania.
Over the years, the clinic has had:
- 4500 admissions
- 3700 operations
- 28,000 ambulatory visits

Three special offices work at the Children’s ambulatory clinic:
- Surgery
- Urology
- Orthopedics - traumatology

6 employes carry out educational work in the deparment:

Prof.dr.Vidmantas Barauskas – head of the department

Ass.prof. dr.Robertas Bagdzevičius 
Ass.prof. dr.Artūras Kilda
Ass.prof. dr.Dalius Malcius
Assistant V.Jazdauskienė
Assistant K.Jankauskaitė- Urniežienė

Pediatric surgery is taught to the fifth-year students of the Faculty of Medicine (2 credits).
The clinic also prepares residents - pediatric surgeons. Currently, 6 residents - pediatric surgeons study in the clinic.

Over the last 5 years five educational books have been published and the employees of the clinic co-authors of 4 textbooks.

Scientific research is actively pursued in the deparment.
Over the last five years 39 scientific articles have been published:19 in the institute for Scientific Information (ISI) database referred journals, 20 in the Lithuanian Science Council approved list of international databases of referred journals.

Pediatric surgery unit

General pediatric surgery sector

The chief - Prof. V.Barauskas

Phone: (+370 37) 326043

The pediatric urology sector

The chief – Ass.prof. Artūras Kilda

Phone: (+370 37) 326567

Artūras Kilda graduated from the Kaunas Academy of Medicine in 1993, after a residency and has been a working pediatric surgeon in the Kaunas Clinics since 1996. In 2003 he defended his dissertation "Factors influencing the early post-operative results of pediatric operations of excavated thorax”, in 2008 he became an assistant professor of the Pediatric Surgery Clinic, and in 2009 the chief of the pediatric urology section.
He is a multidisciplinary pediatric surgeon, who performs about 400 operations during the year. He specializes in pediatric urology, thoracic surgery, pediatric oncology and endoscopic surgery. He is one of the the pioneers and developers of pediatric video endoscopic surgery in Lithuania.
Has had apprenticeships in Salzburg, Leipzig and Hamburg

The purulent disease pediatric surgery sector

The chief –Ass.prof. Dalius Malcius

Phone: (+370 37) 326567

Dalius Malcius graduated from the Kaunas Academy of Medicine in 1990, has been working in the Kaunas Clinics as a pediatric surgeon from 1992.
In 2009 he defended his dissertation "Epidemiological and clinical studies of acute haematogenous osteomyelitis”, in 2009 he was also appointed the chief of the Purulent disease pediatric surgery department and began working as a pediatric surgery clinic lecturer.
He is a multidisciplinary pediatric surgeon, who performs about 300 operations during the year. He specializes in purulent disease pediatric surgery, pediatric urology and video endoscopic surgery. HE is one of the pioneers and developers in pediatric video endoscopic surgery in Lithuania.
In 2007 was awarded a European Pediatric Surgeon certificate.
Has had apprenticeships in Hamburg, Stockholm, Salzburg and Leipzig.
Social activities:
Lithuanian Pediatric Surgery Association secretary since 2003.
Secretary of the Baltic Pediatric Surgery Association in 2000-2002 and 2006 – 2008.
Was the information Committee member of EuPs (European Association of Pediatric Surgery) in 2003-2008.

Pediatric Orthopedics–Traumatology Unit

The chief –  prof. Emilis Čekanauskas

Phone: (+370 37) 327080

Pediatric Orthopedics–Traumatologists:

prof. E.Čekanauskas
V.Dailyda
Dr.R.Degliūtė-Muller
Dr.V.Gerulis
Dr.J.Gintautienė
Dr.J.Klebanovas
G.Kušleika
M.Masteika
A.Pribuišis
R.Simonaitytė
V.Vitkevičius
S.Žukauskas

Emilis Čekanauskas graduated from the Kaunas Academy of Medicine in 1989, from 1990 to 2000 worked as an orthopedic trauma doctor in the Kaunas Red Cross Hospital, and from 2000 is a chief of the pediatric orthopedics – traumatology unit in the Kaunas Pediatric Surgery Clinic.
In 2010 he defended his doctoral thesis "Evaluation of treatment methods of children who experienced dislocated fractures above the protuberance of the humerus”.
He is a multidisciplinary pediatric orthopedic-trauma specialist who performs over 300 operations during the year, specializing in oncology, as well as foot, elbow and multiple trauma surgery.
Has had apprenticeships in Tel Aviv, Stockholm, Vienna, Marseilles, Helsinki.
Social activities:
President of   the Lithuanian Pediatric orthopedic-traumatology society.

An integrated work of pedagogical, diagnostic and scientific research activites is practiced in the Clinic of Pathological Anatomy of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences.

The principal goals of the practice in the Clinic of Pathological Anatomy are:

1.To perform high quality pathology studies that enable to provide one with scientifically-based level of the modern knowledge and technologies with a purpose to reflect university education and its qualification, as well as to develop an overall-educated, ethically responsible and creative personality.

2.To perform the pathological researches of the highest scientific level and to prepare the scientists.

3.To improve the quality of pathological diagnostic services, successfully applying modern technologies and performing the integrated activities of pathological practice.

History

When the Lithuania University was established on the 16th of February in 1922, the Council of Medicine Faculty, in accordance with the statute approved by Seimas on the 22th of April in 1922, appointed  Emilis Vinteleris to establish the Department of the Common Pathology and Pathological Anatomy, and to conduct its activities as a Head of the Department on the 30th of June in 1922. Emilis Vinteleris arrived to Kaunas on the 29th of January in 1923 and started the lectures. On the 18th of September in 1922 the Council of Medicine Faculty appointed prof. Leonas Gogelis as a temporary replacement for the confirmed Head of the Department (until Emilis Vinteleris arrived) to conduct the activities of the Department and to lecture for the students. Janina Mackevičaitė (PhD) was appointed as a senior assistant and Kazys Oželis became the prosector at the time. The Department of Common Pathology and Pathological Anatomy was established in the War Hospital, and in 1923‘s spring this Department was transfered to the 2nd Houses of Lithuanian University (the University of Vytautas Magnus from 1930 06 07). The basis of both academic studies and pathologic diagnostics as well as a museum of macropreparations was developed intensively through the early years of the Department‘s activity. Janina Mackevičaitė – Lašienė translated Herxheimer‘s textbook of the Common Pathology Basics, and it was published in 1925 as the second publication of Medicine Faculty. The Department was transfered to a newly-built Houses of the Medicine Faculty in Mickevičius Street in December, 1932. The academical studies were  performed as well as surgical and biopsy material were examined in this building, whereas most of the autopsies were performed in the Hospital of the Red Cross Community.

When the new University Clinics were built in 1939, the Department of Common Pathology and Pathological Anatomy was established in a separate building (present building of the Clinic). Senior professor Janina Mackevičaitė – Lašienė was appointed as a Head of the Pathological Anatomy Department of Kaunas University (the name of the University of Vytautas Magnus at the time in 1940 08 24) on the 12th of February in 1941, when professor Emilis Vinteleris expressed his intentions to migrate to Germany. Associate professor Antanas Starkus (PhD) was appointed as a Head of the Department (the University of Vytautas Magnus regained its earlier name on the 1st of July in 1941 by the Temporary Goverment of Lithuania) on the 9th of August in 1941, but on the 16th of March in 1943 he was transfered to the Stutthof‘s Concentracion Camp. The pedagogical activities as well as pathologic diagnostics were actively performed in 1944 – 1965, when professor Janina Lašienė was the Head of the Department. Moreover, the Service of Lithuanian Pathology was developed, and the Scientific Society of Lithuanian Anatomical Pathologists (present day – pathologists) was established. Therefore, the Department became a central establishment for the pathologists‘ training. Professor Janina Lašienė was particulary interested in the endocrinology field of scientific researches and developed the functional morphology of endocrine glands.

Professor Jūratė Jankevičiūtė (the Head of the Department in 1965 – 1976) carried out the scientific researches in cardiac pathology, and the first lithuanian textbook of Pathological Anatomy was published in 1973.

Professor Elena Stalioraitytė was appointed as a new Head of the Department in 1976. Together with professor Janina Lašienė she analysed the problems of endocrinology. The monography „Endocrine glands of the newborns“ written by professors E. Stalioraitytė and J. Lašienė was evaluated with the Lithuanian National Award. More attention was focused for the perfection of the pedagogical process by applying the elements of problemic studies. Many textbooks were published, including the new publication of the Pathological Anatomy textbook (1986), and the scientific researches of sudden cardiac death were performed actively during this period of time.

The Department of Pathological Anatomy was joined with the Department of Histology and Embryology in 1984 – 1988, whereas in 1988 – 1992 it was in a coalition with the Department of Forensic Medicine (Head of the Department was professor Jonas Nainys in 1988 – 1989 and professor Romualdas Gailys in 1989 – 1992).

The present Clinic of Pathological Anatomy was established in 1992, when the Department was joined with the clinic and the cytological service. Professor Kazys Daukša was appointed as a new Head of the Clinic. Professor Romualdas Gailys was the Head of the Clinic in 2003 – 2009.

The old books of registrated autopsies and biopsies examined, the most important manuscripts, documents of various pathology studies and practice, the copies of all the textbooks and manuals as well as pieces of old equipment are kept in the Department from 1922 and can be seen in the exposition.

Studies

Pathological anatomy is a discipline that combines the fundamental sciences and clinical practice. The information that is aquired studying the morphological changes of the organs, tissues and cells induced by human pathological processes and diseases serves as a basic knowoledge for the further development of the essential diagnostic and treatment skills. The general (associated with pathological processes) and systemic, nozologic (associated with the diseases), sections of pathological anatomy are studied.

The students of Medicine programme aquire the basic knowledge of pathological anatomy in the second and the third course, when studying the integrated modules of problemic studies: the basics of the preclinical studies, the reproductive health, the basics of neurosciences, the immune response and infection, the respiration and circulation, the metabolism and homeostasis. The Clinic of Pathological Anatomy conduct the studies of the Immune response section of the Immune response and Infection module.

The students of Odontology programme gain the necessary knowledge of the pathology and the consequence – outcome link between pathological processes in the third course with a purpose to comprehend the morphological basis, the development mechanism and the clinical importance of the pathological processes and diseases.

The students of both Medical – Veterinary Genetics and Medical – Veterinary Biochemistry programmes analyse the morphological basis of pathological processes and the molecular mechanisms related to the development of these processes as well as the clinical importance of these pathological changes in the organism. The basic skills of the morphological and molecular diagnostics are aquired during the studies of Pathological Anatomy.

The students of Oral Hygiene (the 2nd course), Nursery and Obstetrics (the 1st course), Physiotherapy and Ergotherapy (the 2nd course) programmes study the Pathology subject combined of Pathological Anatomy and Patholocial Physiology aquiring the knowledge of the basic pathological processes as well as the morphological basis and development mechanisms of particular diseases.

A more detail approach of the pathological diagnostics is granted in the 6th course when students study clinical pathology and forensic medicine.

A modern auditorium of Janina Lašienė functions as a compatible accommodation for lectures, seminars and tutorials in the totally renovated Study Department in the Clinic of Pathological Anatomy. The classes of practical works are provided with visual – consultation microscopic systems constructed of optic bridges, digital cameras with high resolution characteristics and monitors of 60‘ diagonal parameter as well as binocular microscopes for individual or group studies. The server system is installed for the virtual studies of histological slides. The basic skills of visual analysis are being developed by using Media Cybernetics ImagePro software.

There is a museum of more than 2000 macroscopic preparations in the Clinic of Pathological Anatomy, and the collections of histological slides with routine staining and additional specific histochemical, immunohistochemical, and in situ hybridization reactions are formed. As a result, the deeper comprehension of pathological processes and structural changes of the diseases is achieved in addition to a better understanding of the possibilities of modern pathology diagnostics. 

Traditional lectures, studies of macroscopic preparations, histological slides, electronograms, observations of autopsies performances and biopsy material extraction as well as modern technologies of virtual histopathology (telepathology) are combined in the Clinic of Pathological Anatomy. Virtual histopathology (telepathology) is a modern study methodology when microimages of the histological slides related to a particular study topic are demonstrated throughout all the area of specimen cut in real time. The maximum resolution of these microscopic images are the same as in highest power magnification of routine optic microscopy in order to assure autonomous, easy available pathology studies as an alternative for the studies of routine histological slides.

Virtual histopathology  http://www.pathonet.lt/moodle/course/category.php?id=44 is also applicable for the tablet personal computers. The descriptions of all histological slides and practical exercises are presented, as well. Students have a possibility to save any image at any magnification according to the individual needs of the study process.

Several elements of problemic studies have been already applied in pathological anatomy studies for approximately three decades when solving the designed morphological diagnostic tasks composed of different collections of macropreparations, histological slides and electronograms. A special consideration of study process is appointed for the autonomous practice. Therefore, all the manuals of practical works have been updated. 

All the study material, including interactive textbook „Fundamental Pathology“, the Atlas of Histopathology (both lithuanian and english), the manuals of practical works are digitalized and is  available for the students of all study programmes: http://www.pathonet.lt/moodle/.

The studies of pathology residency (4 years) are organized in the Clinic of Pathological Anatomy as well as the studies of other residency programmes that are related to pathological anatomy.

The professors lecture in elective studies, conduct the scientific works for the students, and participate in the doctoral studies. The postgraduate studies for the pathologists are also available.

The professors develop their educational skills using the experience of foreign universities.

The principal tendencies of Scientific Activities

The pathologists – professors of the Pathological Anatomy Clinic participate in executing integrated researches of disease diagnostics, treatment and prognosis (modern pathology diagnostics is an important element of these studies) according to their particular field of specimens analysed, including cerebral neoplasia, neoplastic and non-neoplastic morphological changes of lungs, breast, cervic, gastrointestinal tract, liver, skin and other systems in the organism, by applying modern diagnostic methods of pathology (molecular and gene expression in a protein level). Visual analysis methods are becoming more popular in clinical practice of diagnostics.

Clinical Activities

The Head of the Biopsy Sector is Darius Pranys, tel. +370 37 32 64 32, e-mail: darius@pathology.lt.

The Head of the Cytology Sector is Vestina Martinkutė, tel. +370 37 32 67 18, e-mail: vestina.martinkute@lsmuni.lt.

The Head of the Autopsy Sector is Dainius Jaunčiauskas, tel. +370 37 32 64 05, e-mail: dainius.janciauskas@kaunoklinikos.lt.

More than 35 000 specimens of surgical and biopsy material and about 60 000 cytological specimens are analysed in addition to more than 100 autopsy examinations are performed in the Clinic of Pathological Anatomy. The specimens of surgical and biopsy material not only from the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, but also from the other establishments of Health Care system are examined, as well.

Modern technologies of pathological diagnostics are applied in the Clinic‘s routine practice with a purpose to fit the increasing quality requirements of both diagnostic tests and treatment. All the equipment of the Clinic correspond to the present worldwide standarts. The application of both routine histological and specific histochemical staining is used in routine diagnostical practice in addition to an increased use of the immunohistochemical reactions (immunohistochemal reactions with over 100 immunomarkers are performed by automated Roche Ventana processors). There is a progressive increase of the molecular reactions‘ application that are valuable for the present diagnosis identification and for desicions associated with the individual treatment. 

Automated tissue preparation for the further examination (pre-analytic stage), the database of pathological patient‘s specimen examination developed by the employees of the Clinic (in lithuanian language) which combines the stages of laboratory work (tissue preparation for further examination) and diagnosis identification with an adequate conclusion (by using macroscopic, histological etc. studies) are the key elements for the assurance of the modern quality standarts of pathological examinations that are applied in routine practice of the Clinic. The quality control system is established, as well.

Pathologists observe structural changes of the tissues by using modern optic microscopes combined with recording equipment.

More attention is focused to the prevention programmes of colorectal, cervical, breast and prostate cancer.

All the histological specimens are stored according to the standarts of pathological examination (over 10 years), therefore all of them are available for a re-evaluation or additional examination.

A great attention is focused on the post-graduate studies of the pathologists: the daily discussion of patients‘ pathological specimens and plans for the further analysis with a purpose to establish a precise pathological diagnosis are conducted. Furthermore, doctors participate and present their cases in various events organised by the professional societies in Lithuania and other countries of Europe.

Moreover, daily meetings with clinicians of other Kaunas Clinics (Surgery, Gastroenterology, Dermatovenerology etc.) are organised where individual, more sophisticated cases of patients are discussed by using multi-binocular microscope and comparing the data of pathological examination and other visual diagnostic methods like common and digital dermatoscopy, siascopy, ultrasound, radionuclidic diagnostics, computerized tomography, magnetic resonanse imaging etc.

Co-workers of the Clinic actively participate in the development of the legal basis that regulate the activities of the Lithuanian Pathology service and the quality of the pathological diagnostics.  

Contacts

Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno klinikos,

Eivenių str. 2, LT-50009 Kaunas, Lithuania

Phone: +370 37 326626, fax +370 37 327160,
E-mail: vaiku.ligu.klinika@kaunoklinikos.lt

Head - prof. Rimantas Kėvalas

Phone: + 370 37 326963

Email: rimantas.kevalas@kaunoklinikos.lt

The structure of Pediatric Clinic:

• Pediatric emergency department (PED)
• Outpatient clinic
• I pediatric department
• II pediatric department
• Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)

Divisions:

• pediatric critical care
• pediatric nephrology
• pediatric pulmonology
• pediatric allergology
• pediatric cardiology and rheumatology
• pediatric oncohematology
• pediatric gastroenterology

History of the Pediatric Clinic reaches 1924, when department of children diseases was established at Kaunas University. Pediatric Clinic was founded in 1991. Assoc. prof. J. Bojarskas leaded the Clinic. Since 2000 prof. R. Kėvalas is the head of the Clinic.

Division of pediatric critical care

Division consists of Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and pediatric emergency department (PED). The mission of the division is to deliver intensive care service of the highest standards to every critically ill child and to consult every child admitting to our department. The PICU was founded in 1977. After the renovation and implementation of Swiss-Lithuanian project in 1995, current PICU has 8 well-equipped beds. The number of the annual admissions is approximately 1.200 (intensive care and post-operative care patients). PED as a part of Pediatric Clinic was founded in 1999. The total number of admissions equals approximately 25.000 per year. Current PED is able to consult every patient, to manage the emergency situations and to observe the patient for 24 hours if necessary. The scientific activities include several directions – bacterial infection and sepsis (SPROUT, SBI risk assessment, s.aureus infections in children), hospital acquired infection (national and international registries, colonisation routes of the lower airways in patients with endotracheal tube) and trauma (severe brain injury, therapeutic hypothermia, trauma registry). The classes for undergraduate students and also a part of pediatric and other residency programs are taking place in the division.

Outpatient Clinic

The Outpatient Clinic is a consulting unit within the framework of the Pediatric Clinic of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics. The Outpatient Clinic provides specialized secondary and tertiary outpatient care for children under 18 years old. Official statistics reflect an average of 30 000 consultations and 45 000 visits per year.

The Outpatient Clinic provides the top level service, which is based on the consultations of distinguished 67 doctors of various specializations, assisted by 18 high qualified nurses. Among our members of staff we have 19 PhD doctors, 9 associate professors and 1 professor. Patients are consulted by pediatric allergologists, pediatric gastroenterologists, pediatric pulmonologists, pediatric nephrologists, pediatric hematologists, pediatric cardiologist-rheumatologists, pediatricians, pediatric surgeons, pediatric urologists, pediatric proctologist, children's orthopedics-traumatologists, otorhinolaryngologist, gynecologists, neonatologists, ultrasound specialist, and radiologists.

Patients have possibility to be consulted at other clinics of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno Klinikos Hospital, by pediatric neurologist, pediatric endocrinologist, children psychiatrist, psychologist and other specialists. The Outpatient Clinic is well equipped with modern technologies for diagnostics and treatment. Specialists of many medical specialties are working here. Regarding their competence, high qualification and selfless work using progressive methods of treatment, the most complicated diseases are diagnosed and cured. 

I pediatric department

I pediatric department consists of pediatric nephrology, pediatric pulmonology and pediatric allergology divisions.

Division of pediatric nephrology

Division was founded in 1996. It has 15 beds. The number of the annual admissions is approximately 320. More than 2000 consultations/years are performed by pediatric nephrologists in Outpatient clinic. 130 consultations inside the hospital.

Pediatric nephrology services are available 24/7.

All methods of renal replacement therapy are available:

• Peritoneal dialysis (acute and chronic)
• Haemodialysis (acute and chronic)
• Pediatric continuous renal replacement therapy (PCRRT)
• Kidney transplantation

Pediatric nephrologists diagnose and treat varies conditions, such as:

• Renal failure (acute and chronic)
• Tubular disorders
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome
• Congenital renal malformations
• Urinary tract infections
• Glomerulopathies
• Genetic kidney disorders
• Etc.

A lot of investigations are available:

• Kidney biopsy
• Interventional radiology
• Bone mineral densitometry
• Kidney imaging (Ultrasound, MRI, CT scan)
• 24-hour blood pressure monitoring
• Urodynamic investigation
• etc.

Scientific activity:

• Early detection of acute kidney injury
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome: etiology and prognostic factors
• Etiology and treatment problems in recurrent urinary tract infections
• Voiding dysfunction

Pediatric nephrology service includes two centres:

• Children‘s continence centre
• Children‘s chronic and rare kidney diseases centre

Collaboration with pediatric nephrologists from different countries.

Division of pediatric pulmonology

Division of pediatric pulmonology is based in I-st department of children diseases.

Currently, pulmonology division activities are carried out as follows:

• Outpation consullation at the children Outpatient Clinic,
• Hospital pulmonology patient examination and treatment,
• Pedagogical work
• Scientific work

Highly qualified specialists – children pulmonologists and pulmonologists-allergists work in the division. They consult children from all of Lithuania.

Within the division every year about 1000 are treated, over 3000 children with respiratory and allergic diseases are consulted in the Outpatient Clinic. Additionally patients with severe chronic lung diseases - uncontrolled asthma, cystic fibrosis, and other purulent and interstitial lung diseases are observed and treated.

All of the technical capabilities present in Kaunas Clinics are being used for children respiratory tract illness diagnosis and treatment.

• Detailed allergological baby and child examinations are possible for the determination of the allergic respiratory diseases nature. Allergy skin prick tests are performed to identify inhalant allergens food and inhalable allergens specific IgE antibodies in the blood serum are analyzed, cytological nose secretion examinations are performed.
• In order to examine children respiratory functions new computer hardware Vmax which corresponds to global quality standards is used. For children over 7 years of age spirometry, provocation and bronchodilatation tests are performed. Besides routine analysis lung capacity, gas diffusion on the lung alveoles - capillaries level, respiratory muscle force examinations are possible. Such invetigation is very important for children with chronic lung diseases. Young, 3-7 year old children respiratory function can be evaluated using the Jaeger MasterScope spirometer, which is specifically designed for smaller children. Airway resistancy of toddlers can be measured by impulse oscillometry (IOS) method, which does not require the active participation of the child during examination.
• Experienced specialists perform bronchological examinations. Diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy in the Clinic of children diseases is performed for all ages of infants and children.
• Specialists of the Pediatric Clinic also use the newest of radiological examinations (computer tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance examination, positron emission tomography, contrast, radioisotope analysis). Ultrasound examinations are widely used. Using various methods of visualization procedures such as pleural puncture and drainage or lung tissue transbronchine or transthoracic biopsy.
• In order to achieve the best in children respiratory diseases diagnosis and treatment, we collaborate with specialists from other fields – ear-nose-throat doctors, children surgeons, oncologists, neurologists, immunologists, radiologists, microbiologists, geneticists. All Kaunas Clinic laboratory facilities are used for diagnosis of pulmonary and allergic diseases. Complicated biochemical, immunological and microbiological examinations are possible on ill children.
• In order to give qualified help for children with chronic respiratory diseases the Centre of Pediatric chronic respiratory diseases was founded in the Pediatric Clinic. Patients with cystic fibrosis and other chronic purulent and interstitial lung diseases are examined, treated and constantly monitored. The use of the newest respiratory tract monitoring means - cough assistants and vibrational jackets – allow for top quality monitoring and treatment of patients.
• Close collaboration with children intensive care doctors and neurologists allow for development of assistance for children with neuro-muscular diseases. Pediatric Clinic is the only one in Lithuania, where home long-term non-invasive ventilation is selected, adapted and ensured for the pediatric patients.

Highly qualified specialist knowledge and wide diagnostic possibilities allow for diagnosis and effective treatment of not only common children respiratory organ diseases but also rare and complicated illnesses.

6 doctors of the pulmonolgy sector  are PhD in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergology topics, trained in European and U.S. hospitals. These are throughout the country known specialists. They are in charge of scientific studies, prepare treatment guidelines for lung and allergic diseases and give lectures and presentations in republic and international conferences.

Children pulmonologists actively participate in international scientific projects regarding problems of children respiratory system diseases. The data of international projects ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Children) and SPACE (Study on Prevention of Allergy in Children in Europe) are well known not only in Lithuania, but also in all of Europe.

In the division of pediatric pulmonology educational work is also actively practiced. Every year around 300 of students study pediatric respiratory diseases. Jung doctors are prepared according to the Pediatrician and pediatric pulmonology residenship program. Pediatrician, pediatric pulmonologists, other specialists and family doctors come from all across Lithuania to the Pediatric Clinic to improve their pulmonology knowledge and increase their professional qualification.

Division of pediatric allergology

Pediatric allergology division is one of the division at the 1st department of Children Diseases. Children ill with the most severe allergic diseases from various Lithuanian regions are being consulted and treated at the hospital wards and in outpatient clinic.

Consulting doctors are well known, high quality doctors, who underwent specialization at various clinics in Europe and USA.

In the process of diagnosing and treating children, who are ill with allergic diseases (asthma, dermatitis, rhinitis, urticaria, anaphylaxis, etc.), all laboratory and technical examination techniques and capabilities at Kaunas Clinic are used. Infants and children can be examined by performing skin prick tests, patch tests, evaluating specific IgE for food and inhalant allergens, evaluating nasal, bronchial secretions, performing lung function.

Seriously ill children can be treated with the help of plazmapheresis, biological therapy.

Frequently ill children can be examined for having various immunodeficiences and if diagnosed – treated every month with intravenous immunoglobulin. Children are taught to get subcutaneous immunoglobulin at home, as well.

Pediatric allergologists are widely involved in preparing methodological recommendations and textbooks about children allergic diseases diagnostic procedures and treatment. They are lecturers at national and international conferences, taking part at international projects (ISAAC, SPACE, 7BPHELIX) dealing with risk factors of allergic diseases.

Pediatric allergologists are involved in teaching process – giving lectures for students and residents, as well for pediatricians and family doctors at postgraduate courses.

II pediatric department

II pediatric department consists of pediatric cardiology and rheumatology, pediatric oncology and hematology, pediatric gastroenterology divisions.

Division of pediatric cardiology and rheumatology

Clinical work at pediatric cardiology division

Consulting and treating children with congenital and acquired heart diseases, examining and treating children of all ages for rhythm disturbances. Transesophageal electrophysiological studies of the conductive system of the heart are performed, for the older children they can be performed. Intracardiac transcatheter examinations of the conductive system of the heart and radiofrequency ablation procedures are performed in children suffering from supraventricular and ventricular tachycardias. Approximately 20 –30 radiofrequency ablation procedures per year are performed in our Clinic. Cardiac ultrasound studies are performed for children in Outpatient Clinic and for patients from other departments, including newborn infants in neonatology clinic.

Pediatric rheumatology division

Children with joints and systemic connective tissue diseases are treated. The novel methods of treatment with biological therapy drugs (etanercept, adalimumab, infliksimab) are used. Treatment with intraarticular steroid injections for children suffering from joints inflammatory diseases are performed as well.

The scientific and pedagogical work

Two residents constantly are studying and working in Pediatrics Cardiology residency, and 1 - 2 residents studying in Pediatric Rheumatology. The lectures, seminars are held, the residents are trained to carry out the practical procedures. The students of Medial faculty of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences carry out scientific work in the field of pediatric cardiology and rheumatology. Each year the works are delivered to the SMD conferences.

Pediatric oncology and hematology division

First patients with malignant tumors were started to treat in II department of the Pediatric Clinic in 1997. The division of children‘s oncology and hematology was established in 2005. It had 10 beds. After reconstruction of Pediatric Clinic the new division of children‘s oncology and hematology was opened in 2012. The Cnetre of Oncology and Hematology was established in 2013. This is a modern isolated division with 15 beds and all nessesary equipment, that is required for treatment children with malignant tumors and blood diseases. The patiens with hematological disorders are consulted in Outpatient Clinic every workday.

The team of specialists consisting of doctors pediatric oncologists-hematologists, nurses, psychologist, social worker and rehabilitologist work in this division providing care for patients with cancer.

Clinical work areas - children's hematological disorders, children’s malignant tumors, especially central nervous system tumors.

A new children's hematology residency program is prepared and approved. 

The scientific and pedagogical work is carried out. Three PhD‘s theses were defended and one doctoral work is ongoing now.

All doctors of the division of children‘s oncology and hematology are members of Nordic Organisation of pediatric hematology and oncology (NOPHO), Lithuanian society of hematology, Baltic society of pediatric oncology and hematology (BSPOH).

Pediatric gastroenterology division

Pediatric gastroenterology division is one of the divisions at the II department of Children Diseases. Most severe patients with gastrointestinal, liver diseases and nutrition disorders are treated in the hospital and continue consultations and treatment in outpatient clinic. The pathology of the patients in this division vary from rare congenital diseases like metabolic disorders, all kind of gastrointestinal and biliary atresia to acquired diseases like peptic ulcer, gastroesophagial reflux, gastrointestinal eosinophilic diseases, all kind of hepatitis and pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, gastrointestinal infections and undernutrition problems. The registry and clinical research is done in inflammatory bowel diseases and patients after liver transplantation, special interest in H. pylori infection among pediatric patients. All new diagnostic methods like MR enterography, KT angiography, immunological and genetic investigation, all types of endoscopy and ultrasound, liver biopsy are done according diagnostic protocols of the diseases. The new treatment methods like biological therapy, enteral, parenteral and even home parenteral nutrition is put into practice. Pediatric gastroenterology division is in a close collaboration with adult Gastroenterology clinic by taking part in the same research projects and consulting meetings, Pediatric Surgery clinic and The Children's Memorial Health Institute department of pediatric surgery and organ transplantation in Warsaw. All pediatric gastroenterologists working in this division are the members of national and international gastroenterology societies.

Pediatric gastroenterologists are widely involved in preparing methodological recommendations and textbooks about gastrointestinal and hepatology diseases diagnostics and treatment. They give lectures in national and international conferences in Lithuania and abroad, taking part at international projects (ESPGHAN), are involved in the university teaching process by giving lectures to students, residents and doctors in postgraduate courses.

Pedagogical work

Module: children diseases

The aim of the module is to obtain knowledge on structure, functions, dysfunctions and mechanisms in fields of children diseases, children surgery, children psychiatry, genetics, radiology and clinical laboratory.

Consists of:

Children diseases cycle introduces students with child’s psychomotor and physical development, feeding, common diseases of respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, urinary and hematopoietic systems. The main emphasis is on peculiarities of all diseases in children of all ages.  

Children surgery cycle provides information how to apply general surgery rules to growing, maturing and constantly changing organism.

Children psychiatry cycle provides students with knowledge on normal child’s and adolescent’s psychological development, biologic – psychological – social factors, disturbing normal development and causing mental and behaviour disorders, common developmental and mental dysfunctions in childhood and adolescence. 

Genetics cycle provides knowledge on chromosome syndromes, the way of research from clinical diagnosis of the inherited syndrome to the molecular diagnosis; discovers the opportunities of consultations in medical genetics.

Radiology lectures focus on how to apply results of radiology research in pediatrics.

Clinical laboratory lectures introduce the most common methods and principles of laboratory diagnosis in pediatrics.

Objectives:

To introduce anatomic and physiological peculiarities of healthy child’s organism, physical and psychomotor development, principles of nutrition, day’s routine and hygiene peculiarities, and also specifications of common children diseases.

To introduce to early diagnostics of children surgical disorders and treatment specifications, focusing on the first aid especially in children’s urgent state surgery cases.

To present principles of treatment, correction, rehabilitation and prevention for children with mental and behavioral disorders, to introduce mental health care system in Lithuania.

To introduce chromosome syndromes and opportunities of medical genetics consultations, application of radiology research in pediatrics, most popular methods and principles of laboratory diagnostics in pediatrics.

Post-graduate studies (residency)

Children diseases

Children diseases and children critical care

Children diseases and children pulmonology

Children diseases and children hematology

Children diseases and children nephrology

Children diseases and children cardiology

Children diseases and children gastroenterology

Children diseases and children allergology

Children diseases and children infection diseases

Children diseases and children rheumatology

Staff of the Department:

Professor Rimantas KĖVALAS

E-mail: vaiku.ligu.klinika@kaunoklinikos.lt

Professor Liutauras LABANAUSKAS

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6890

E-mail: liutauras.labanauskas@fc.lsmuni.lt 

Associate professor Dovilė Evalda GRINKEVIČIŪTĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6684

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6038 

E-mail: dovile.evalda.grinkeviciute@fc.lsmuni.lt

Associate professor Vaidotas GURSKIS

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6897

E-mail: vaidotas.gurskis@fc.lsmuni.lt

Associate professor Jolanta KUDZYTĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 7092

E-mail: jolanta.kudzyte@lsmuni.lt

Associate professor Rūta KUČINSKIENĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6611

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6848

E-mail: ruta.kucinskiene@lsmuni.lt

Associate professor Giedra LEVINIENĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 73 1926

E-mail: giedra.leviniene@lsmuni.lt

Associate professor Valdonė MISEVIČIENĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6119

E-mail: valdone.miseviciene@fc.lsmuni.lt

Associate professor Šarūnas RUDAITIS

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6789

E-mail: sarunas.rudaitis@fc.lsmuni.lt

Associate professor Eglė TAMULEVIČIENĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 30 6079

E-mail: egle.tamuleviciene@lsmuni.lt

Associate professor Laimutė VAIDELIENĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 7002

E-mail: laimute.vaideliene@fc.lsmuni.lt

Lector Vilija BUBNAITIENĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6789

E-mail: vilija.bubnaitiene@fc.lsmuni.lt

Lector Rosita KIUDELIENĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6033

E-mail: rosita.kiudeliene@lsmuni.lt

Lector Marija MARENGOLCIENĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 30 6090

E-mail: marija.marengolciene@fc.lsmuni.lt

Lector Jūratė MASALSKIENĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6286

E-mail: jurate.masalskiene@lsmuni.lt

Lector Eglė RAMANAUSKIENĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6033

E-mail: egle.ramanauskiene@fc.lsmuni.lt

Lector Rūta ROKAITĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6611

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6848

E-mail: ruta.rokaite@fc.lsmuni.lt

Lector Giedrė RUTKAUSKIENĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6033

E-mail: giedre.rutkauskiene@fc.lsmuni.lt

Lector Rima ŠILEIKIENĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6272

E-mail: rima.sileikiene@fc.lsmuni.lt

Lector Lina JANKAUSKAITĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6789

E-mail: lina.jankauskaite@fc.lsmuni.lt

Lector Edita HANSTED

Telephone No: +370  37 32 7189

E-mail: edita.hansted@fc.lsmuni.lt

Assistant Sonata ARGUSTAITĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6033

E-mail: sonata.argustaite@fc.lsmuni.lt

Assistant Andželika BALČIŪNIENĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6626

E-mail: andzelika.balciuniene@fc.lsmuni.lt

Assistant Algirdas DAGYS

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6684

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6038

E-mail: algirdas.dagys@fc.lsmuni.lt

Assistant Diana DOBILIENĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6789

E-mail: diana.dobiliene@fc.lsmuni.lt

Assistant Jūratė KASPARAVIČIENĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6239

E-mail: jurate.kasparaviciene@fc.lsmuni.lt

Assistant Giedrė KOJELIENĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 

E-mail: giedre.kojeliene@fc.lsmuni.lt

Assistant Tomas KONDROTAS

Telephone No: +370  37 32

E-mail: tomas.kondratas@lsmuni.lt

Assistant Lukšienė VIRGINIJA 

E-mail: virginija.luksiene@fc.lsmuni.lt

Assistant Ilona STIRBIENĖ 

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6762

E-mail: ilona.stirbiene@fc.lsmuni.lt

Assistant Neringa VALATKAITĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6789

E-mail: neringa.valatkaite@fc.lsmuni.lt

Assistant Aristida ZIUTELIENĖ 

Telephone No:  +370  37 32 6239

E-mail: aristida.ziuteliene@fc.lsmuni.lt 

Assistant Migla ŽĖBIENĖ 

Telephone No: +370  37 32 6239

E-mail: migla.zebiene@fc.lsmuni.lt

Assistant Renata JEZUKEVIČIENĖ

E-mail: renata.jezukeviciene@fc.lsmuni.lt

Study administrator Judita BULOTAITĖ

Telephone No: +370  37 32 7086

E-mail: vaiku.ligu.klinika@lsmuni.lt

E-mail: judita.bulotaite@lsmuni.lt

All divisions contacts

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Clinic employs 13 employees. Eleven are educational staff and 2 are auxiliary personnel. The clinic employs one professor, three lecturers and 6 assistants currently enrolled in doctoral studies at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Fourth-year students of Academy of Medicine have a “Support and Locomotor Module” course, fifth-year students are studying “Urgent Conditions of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery”. Plastic and Reconstructive surgery specialisation residents are trained at Plastic and Reconstructive surgery department according to 5 year Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery residency curriculum.  Various (surgery and therapeutic) specialisation residents reside at Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery clinic for a period of 1 or 2 months.

History

Department has more than 40 years of traditions. The history of Reconstructive Surgery in Lithuania started with the establishment of Burn Unit in the Department of Surgery in Kaunas University Hospital „Kauno Klinikos“ on the December 7, 1972. Unit for a long time served as a Lithuanian National Burn Centre where the most severe burn injuries were referred to treat as in-patients. Initially designated to reconstructive surgery of burns Unit evolved to the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery with full spectrum of reconstructive surgical procedures, educational and research activities. The head of the department is prof. Rytis Rimdeika.

Scientific activities

“The study of the effectiveness of treatment methods of acquired soft tissue defects and valuation of prognostic criteria of treatment outcome” is a science topic certified by department. It is the part of interinstitutional program of “Emergency medicine”. Scientific research is held together with the department of Extreme medicine, the Institute of Anatomy, the Surgery, Intesive Therapy, Laboratory Medicine Skin and Sexually transmitted disease, Orthopaedy/Traumatology, Radiology departments including interdisciplinary doctoral and clinical studies. There are implemented and on going programs in cooperation with foreign partners and funded by the European Union programs:

• The EU 6th Framework Programme International Program “Ultimate pressure dressing system for the management of venous ulcers (ULSYS)” together with AB Biocentras, Brescia university.

The PhD studies are carried out in the department. Scientific research work is conducted on following topics: burns epidemiology, burn depth determination, burn patient analgesia, the identification of agents of wound infection, the prevention of complications of arteriovenous connections, the surgical treatment of acquired hand deformities, the diabetic wound treatment.

Studies

The fourth-year students have lectures on "The Support and Locomotion" topic. This topic explains the essentials of general diagnostic, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of rheumatoid, orthopaedic disease and syndromes also trauma mechanisms. Course contents include: rheumatic disease and orthopaedic disorders, children and adults injury including rehabilitation and physiotherapy. By studying this module, students gain knowledge, valuable for the work of a medical doctor and later during residency specialising to be a plastic surgeon, a rheumatologist, an orthopaedic trauma doctor, a surgeon, a physical/rehabilitation medicine physician and other.

The fifth-year students module “Urgent conditions of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery” consists of general principles of infected wounds diagnosis, energy requirements of burn patients, enteral and parenteral nutrition, the basic pathways of nutrient loss, the main cause of tissue defects rise, the main types of tissue defects reconstrution operations, indications and contraindications of operation. “Burn surgery”and “Reconstructive surgery” topics are studied by plastic surgery, surgery, orthopaedic traumatology, skin and venereal diseases and other specialities residents.

International Relations and Cooperation

The Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery department maintains relations with the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery department of Swedish University of Linkoping, the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery department of UK South Manchester University Hospital, the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery department of Tampere University Hospital of Finland, Surgery department and Centre of Microsurgery of Minsk University hospital of Belorussia, the Surgery department of Gomel University Hospital of Belorussia, the State Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgery clinic of Latvia and Brucu Clinic, the Wroclaw Plastic and Wound surgery Centre of Poland.

Current Projects

• EU FP6 “Ultimate pressure dressing system for the management of venous ulcers (ULSYS)”

Eropean Wound Management Association (EWMA) according with Lithuanian Wound Management Association (LWMA) is coordinating project:  “The Introduction of Modern Wound Management for Russian-speaking European countries”

Contacts

About the clinic

1924 The Department of Nervous and Mental Illness was founded in Kaunas University, which in 1965-1985 Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, 1988-1991. Department of Nervous, Mental Illness and Neurosurgery, since 1991 Psychiatric Clinic. The purpose of carrying out pedagogical, scientific, research and educational activities. In all historical periods, the clinic's research staff actively integrated not only in the university, but also in the activities of the Republic of Lithuania. The best clinical graduates are dynamically integrating with the clinic.

Mental health care is a specialized health care whose purpose is to provide psychiatric help (to diagnose, treat impaired mental functions, to timely alert exacerbations of mental illness), to help a person to adapt to and return to society.

Clinical activities: to provide mental health care services in outpatient and in-patient departments, to provide Liaison counseling in other clinics and emergency departments. Clinic doctors provide outpatient services, in-patient clinics, counseling in other profile clinics.

1. Outpatient services for psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry are provided at the outpatient department of the Kaunas Clinic Nervous System Psychiatric outpatient activities are coordinated by doctor L. Jankauskienė Tel .: (8-37) 326016; (8-37) 326363;

Secondary and tertiary outpatient mental health care services.

2. In-patient treatment:
Head of department dr. A. Jaras
Tel .: (8-37) 326042
Email: algirdas.jaras@lsmuni.lt

2.1. Acute Psychiatry Sector
head of Acute Psychiatry A sector dr A. Jaras
Head of Acute Psychiatry B sector doc. B. Burba
tel.: (8-37) 326016
All acute conditions, psychoses, affective disorders, diagnostically difficult cases, treatment resistant cases, mental disorders due to other diseases.

2.2. Borderline psuchiatry sector
Head of the sector prof. V. Adomaitienė
Head of the sector dubler dr. A. Kunigėlienė
Tel.: (8-37) 32 7385
Neurotic, stress-related, somatoform and other disorders associated with anxiety and mood changes are treated.

2.3. Child and adolescent psychiatry sector. Head of the sector doc. D. Leskauskas Tel .: (8-37) 327030 Children aged 6 to 18 years with acute or exacerbated mental illness are treated.

2.4. Children's and adolescent day care facility. The children's and adolescent psychiatric sector is coordinated by the doctor. D.Velaviciene Tel .: (8-37) 326891 Outpatient mental health care and wellness specialist team services for children and their families.
Main field of scientific activity: Psychiatric integration into general medicine – from identification of the problem to management of the situation. The results are published in the press, conferences, used in pedagogical work.

Existing study programs:

1. Faculty of Medicine

1.1. Field of study – Medicine

• Integrated study program - Medicine, 4 year course, Psychiatric and Clinical Psychology module, 116 hours.
• Integrated study program - Medicine, 5 year course, Pediatric Psychiatry, 24 hours.
• Integrated study program - Medicine (foreign language studies), 4 year course, Psychology and Clinical Psychology module, 116 hours.
• Integrated study program - Medicine (foreign language studies), 5 year course, Pediatric Psychiatry, 24 hours

 2. Faculty of Nursing

2.1. Study field - Nursing

• First cycle study program - Obstetrics, 3 year course, Women and Family Mental Health, 20 h.
• First cycle study program - Obstetrics (extramural), 3rd year, Woman and family mental health, 5 h.
• First cycle study program - Nursing, 3 year course, Mental health nursing, 20 h.
• First cycle study program - Nursing (extramural), 3 year, Mental health Nursing, 5 h.
• Master's Degree Program - Advanced Nursing Practice, 2 course, Community and Family Health in Primary health Care, 53 hours.

2.2. Study field - Rehabilitation

• Joint masters program (in conjunction with VDA) - Art Therapy (continuous Form), 1 and 2 years courses, Psychopathology, 96 h.

3. Faculty of Public Health

3.1. Field of studies - Psychology

• First cycle study program - Health Psychology, 3 year course, Psychiatry, 72 h.

4. Veterinary Medicine Faculty

4.1. Study field - Public health

• Master's program - Food Science, 1th year course, Basic Human desires and Mental Health, 40 hours.
• Master's Degree Program - Food Science (Continuous Form), 1th yesr course, Basic Human desires and Mental Health, 8 hrs.

 5. Postgraduate education

• Psychiatric residency.
• Children and adolescent psychiatric residencies.

Residency Educational bases: LSMUL Clinic of Clinics of Kaunas Clinics, Republican Center of Addiction Diseases, kaunas department, Public Hospital of Siauliai Hospital, Clinic of Psychiatry, Republical Kaunas Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Palanga Clinic, State forensic Psychiatric Service at SAM, Kaunas Silainiai Polyclinic. 

6. Doctoral studies.

6.1. Factors related to the efficiency of the emergency aid, persons intending to suicide (doctoral student A. Lygnugarytė-Grikšienė).

6.2. The relationship between the psychoemotional state of men with the social-demographic factors, sex hormones, sexual functioning and health-related quality of life (Doctoral studies S. Nikulina).

6.3. The relationship between autism expressiveness and symptoms of concomitant mental disorders and sociodemographic factors in the age of children and adolescents (Doctoral studies D. Vėlavičienė).

7. Organization of conferences.

During the last three years, the Psychiatric Clinic has organized 13 scientific conferences. On average, four conferences every year. The conferences are organized on a national level, relevant to mental health care issues, providing authors' reports prepared by scientists and lecturers of the Psychiatric Clinic, in co-operation with other LSMU divisions with the interdisciplinary principle of integrity, with other institutions, associations, the State mental health care center at the LR SAM, foreign institutions. In recent years, the conferences have a higher level of scientific knowledge, focusing on the participation of foreign partners.

8. Projects.

8.1. Received grant from the Lithuanian Council of Science for research topic "Relationship between the polymorphism of serotonigeneric system genes and the social environment with attempted suicide and diagnosed mental disorders", funded by the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences (headed by prof. V. Adomaitienė).

8.2. Received grant of the Lithuanian Council of Science for the reasearch topic: "Development of the method of early diagnosis of depressive disorder in the assessment of the emotional response to the properties of different flavors of food". The project is implemented by kaunas University of Technology, partner of the project -Lithuanian University Health Sciences (headed by prof. V. Adomaitienė). 

Contacts

The main purpose – use of modern , science based radiological methods use for diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Objectives:

1. Seek of optimal modern radiological diagnostic methods intended for identifcication of individual pathological variations.
2. Search and management of new science based diagnostic methods and their application in clinical practice.
3. Presentation of Radiology science innovations and opportunities and implementation in the study process.
4. Continuous improvement of radiological assistance,  training for physician radiologists and radiology technologists.

History:

Development of roentgenology-radiology education is associated with the former Kaunas Medical Institute, Department of  Roentgenology and radiology, established in 1956.  Department chairs were: P. Jašinskas (1956-1972),  E.Keleras (1972-1977),  L.Gradauskas (1977-1983). Subsequently, the department name and structure was changed many times. In 1983 two small departments merged to form a single unit of Anaesthesiology, Intensive care and Radiology department , lead by  A.Lukoševičiūtė (1983-1989 ), the head of Radiology sector was L.Gradauskas .
     In 1989the Deartment of Roentgenology-radiology started mentoring Oncology course, and was called the Department of Radiology and Oncology. The head of the Department head was Z.Satkevičius, while of the Oncology sector - S. Jarašius . This cathedral unit was active until 1991. During the entire period of existence of the Department there worked many outstanding physicians (as assistant, associate professors) J.Šukytė - Čaikauskienė , A.Sutkus,  H.Gintautas ,  R.D.Bandzaitienė , V.T.Ragaišienė , J.Kiudelis , E.Juozaitytė , A.Basevičius , D.Virvičiūtė - Skorupskienė and others. Specialized diagnostic offices were set up accordingly: 1963 – in Consultative clinic, 1979 – in Neurosurgery block, 1989 – in Endocrinology block. Special contrast medium, functional imaging, ultrasound, interventional techniques, computer tomography were installed and customized and radionuclide diagnostics started to develop.  Since 1991 the Department of Radiology is formed. Its leaders accordingly: Dr .V. Stankevičius (1991-1992) , Professor  L.Gradauskas (1992-1997), Professor  Z.V. Satkevičius (1997-2002) and Professor A. Basevičius (since 2002 till now). Five divisions were formed in current Radiology department - Roentgenology (head - Dr . E.Jonaitienė ), Tomography (head - prof. S.Lukoševičius ), Interventional Radiology (head – Assoc.prof. R. S. Kaupas ), Nuclear Medicine (head - Dr . G. Kuprionis ) and the department of Radiological diagnostics at Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno Klinikos branch Oncology hospital (head - Dr . I. Gineikienė ). In 2012 a new Radiological Diagnostic Center adapted for clinical diagnostic and pedagogical work , was established, which conducts the most difficult MCT (multislice computed tomography ), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), PET ( Positron Emission Tomography) and other nuclear medicine studies. At present seven specialized sectors are operating in the department - Neuroradiology, Abdominal and pelvic radiology, Thoracic radiology, Musculoskeletal radiology, Soft tissue of the head-neck radiology, Cardiovascular radiology and Special radiology. Now the  Department of Radiology employs over 250 people, of who – over 100 physicians and radiologists, specialists of ultrasound, over 50 residents, over 80 radiology technologists and nursing staff. Department of Radiology – the largest radiological diagnostic department in Lithuania with concentrated modern radiological diagnostic equipment - digital x-ray and mammography machines and cabinets , 10 units of ultrasound diagnostical equipment,  four CT’s, three magnetic resonance imaging machines, three gamma cameras, angiography and bone densitometry (DXA) devices, one  of two in Lithuania – PET (positron emission tomography) machine. Radiological studies are carried out round-the-clock, with the help of non-stop duty of  of 3 physician radiologists and three radiology residents posts. If necessary, at any time of the day not only diagnostic but also therapeutic interventional radiology procedures can be performed. Couints of radiological investigations and procedures are constantly growing. In 2017, over 300 thousand conventional radiographic studies, about 30 thousand mammography screening, about 3,0 thousand bone densitometry (DXA) studies, more than 60 thousand ultrasound imaging, over 38 thousand CT studies, over 8 thousand MRI studies, over fourteen thousand nuclear medicine studies (of which over 800 PET studies),  over four thousand interventional radiology diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were performed. Department of Radiology is the only in Lithuania that performes specialized cardiovascular CT (with 320 slice machine) studies, fetal MRI imaging, specialized functional MRI and CT (perfusion imaging) and a number of other studies.

Science and Studies

In 2003 Nuclear Medicine division staff Department of Radiology organized TATENA international courses fo the first time in Kaunas. In 2006 Department of Radiology  organized the 1st Baltic Congress of Radiology which took place in Kaunas and in 2018 (October 5-6) the Seventh Baltic Congress of Radiology also will take place in Kaunas. The Department is often open to the public from foreign counterparts - the U.S., France, Denmark , Sweden, who are involved in the final residency examinations, defending dissertations and thesis, providing consultatiions and diagnostic assistance. Physicians of the department  often attend  seminars, conferences, and various term internships in Lithuania and abroad.  In recent years, the physicians and residents of the department of  Radiology improved their knowledge and mastered new diagnostic techniques in long-term studies (2-6 months of duration) in  recognized apprenticeship foreign scientific centers: Geneva (Switzerland ), London (UK) , Turku (Finland), Bologna (Italy), Grenoble (France), Barcelona (Spain), and elsewhere.

Clinical radiology is being studied by students, residents, elaborating physician radiologists,  radiology technologists. Department of Radiology approved or renewed training in 17 programs, in which physicians of other medical specialties may study and elaborate. Department of Radiology reviewed and endorsed new Radiology residency program (accredited  by the European Society of Radiology). Students pending doctorate thesis at LUHS (Lithuanian University of Health Sciences) constantly select three programmes of doctorate studies of Radiology. Radiology studies are being carried out in various courses and modules (Respiratory, Oncology and Hematology, Movement system , Neurosciences, etc.) for students of Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Odontology, Students of Oral hygiene, etc.
In the period of 2002-2017 20 doctorate dissertations of neuroradiology,  abdominal radiology, nuclear medicine, thoracal radiology themes were defended in the department of Radiology. Staff of the department  prepared and released the first in Lithuania textbook of "Basics of Radiology"  (2005), expanded "Basics of Radiology Edition” ( 2013), started to prepare the individual anatomical and pathological changes in the areas of educational-methodical radiology.
Clinic employs 5 professors carrying out  pedagogical work (A.Basevičius, S.Lukoševičius, E.Monastyreckienė , I.Kulakienė , R.Gleizniene), 17 doctors of medicine  (including 5 associate professors) and 19 assistants. Each year, the staff of the department of Radiology prints over 80 research articles (with about 10 articles with the ISI coefficient) in Lithuanian and foreign scientific journals and presentes over 150 scientific reports in various local and foreign scientific meetings and events. Physicians of department of Radiology regularly participate in multidisciplinary patient discussions with various profiled departments of LUHS, such as departments of Oncology and Haematology, Surgery,  Gastroenterology, Pathology and others.

New research works are in progress. New trends are being implemented in the department of Radiology: "Optimisation of investigation of early oncological diseases and disease spread evaluation by means of radiological methods ". Department of Radiology is a partner in various "hard" and “soft" research projects with various departments of LUHS: Cardiology, Pulmonology and Immunology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Oncology-Hematology, Gastroenterology and etc.) and other private and public partners (UAB “Inta”, "Ortho Baltic”, LUHS Veterinary Academy, LSU, KTU, VGTU).

The department currently carries out 18 doctorates of Radiology, regarding problems of liver, pancreas, intestine, face, brain, blood vessels and other changes in state of the art research(?) by means of various radiological techniques. About 200  students are involved in the Circle of Radiology at  Student Scientific Society (SSS) in which they prepare their first research papers. Staff of department of Radiology participate in numerous permanent commissions of Lithuanian Ministry of Health, perform board examinations, carry out other organizational-methodical work.

International partners

MATRA project is one of many similar projects, in which Department of Radiology is involved together with partners from abroad: Dutch Metrology and Technology Institute and partners, Sweden (Gothenburg, Uppsala and Stockholm), Denmark (Viborg), Latvia (Riga), Estonia (Tallinn, Tartu), France (Paris and Grenoble), Switzerland (Geneva) and other scientific partners of foreign radiology departments. Experienced physician radiologists of Department of Radiology regularly carry out training of physicians from Kazakhstan, and participating in the targeted scientific-clinical visits to Kazakhstan, this way sharing knowledge and helping to improve the practical, as well as medico-clinical research level of radiology. Such visits are conducted in Astana (Kazakhstan), in National Medical Holding database.
Physicians of the department are members of various European and international radiological societies - ESR (General Radiology), ESNR (neuroradiology) ESGAR (abdominal radiology), ESUR (urogenital radiology), AURE (University Radiologists), ESMRMB (magnetic resonance imaging ), EANM (Nuclear Medicine), ESTI (thoracic radiology), RSNA (North American radiologists) and others.  Staff of department of Radiology are members of the Kaunas Society of Radiologists, which currently unites 140 member and form the base of the Society. Even 15 physician radiologists of department of Radiology are members of the council of Lithuanian Radiologists Association.

Head of Radiology Clinic, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences

Eiveniu 2, LT-50009, Kaunas

e-mail:  algidas.basevicius@kaunoklinikos.lt

tel. 327191, mob. tel 8-699-20572

Contacts

About us

The Rheumatology department was established in 1992 as a distinct administrative unit on the basis of previous Department of Internal Medicine.  It is located in the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno Klinikos. From the beginning the interest of the Rheumatology faculty members -  specialists of highest qualification,  associated professors, doctors of medicine, supervised by  professor N. Misiūnienė, later professor A. Baranauskaitė was  to perform and provide good patient care, to develop research and education for arthritis and the rheumatic diseases in Lithuania, creating the next generation of physician-scientists, according theirs’ own or foreign partners’ experience.

Almost all members of this division – 9 doctors at the moment - work both as physicians and as faculty members. They consult other departments in the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno Klinikos, participates in students’ and medical residents’ education process,  faculty members participate in the activity of Lithuanian Association of Rheumatologists, preparing local diagnostic and treatment protocols of rheumatic diseases. Several clinical trials are constantly running in our clinic.

Rheumatology clinic consists from 27 beds Rheumatology inpatient department and two outpatient cabinets.

Members of this division have expertise in the diagnosis and management of a broad spectrum of rheumatic disease including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, systemic rheumatic diseases ( systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis), gout, ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis,  inflammatory muscle diseases, various forms of vasculitis and soft tissue syndromes. The III level differential diagnosis of rheumatic diseases and musculoskeletal tumors have been done in our Rheumatology department. The modern treatment, such as biological agents – TNF blockers (infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab), monoclonal antibody CD20 – rituximab, certolizumab pegol, tocilizumab, belimumab  are being used to treat rheumatic diseases.

Our specialists are performing such procedures: joint ultrasound, US guided and blind joint aspirations, intraarticular injections, detection of uric crystals in the synovial fluid, capillaroscopy, skin biopsy. For the diagnosis of the diseases the modern radiological diagnostic tools are possible – CT, MRI, bone scan, densitometry, also specific immunological tests, organ biopsies, videocapillaroscopy.  

Studies

Rheumatology department is enrolled in the study process of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Fourth and sixth year medical students are studying rheumatic diseases. Fourth year students have a cycle of Rheumatic diseases as a part of  “musculoskeletal diseases’ module”, during which they have a possibility individually or with  lector to study the real cases of rheumatic diseases, the process of diagnosis and treatment of the patients, to listen to a lectures, participate in seminars and tutorial meetings. The sixth year students have an elective of rheumatic diseases for 1,5 month.  Besides students we participate in all kind of residents training process. During the 2 months course of rheumatic diseases residents work in our inpatient and outpatient departments. Residents in rheumatology participate in 4 year Rheumatology residenship programme, during which half of the time they work in the Rheumatology department, the rest of the time- in all kind of internal medicine departments, neurology, radiology, dermatology departments. Finishing the Rheumatogogy residenship residents have the basics of musculoskeletal ultrasound and have an ability to perform diagnostic joint aspirations. Faculty members participate in the postgraduate teaching process. Different lectures, postgraduate courses for family doctors and specialists of internal medicine and rheumatologists are being held every year.

Research      

Innovative research conducted or planned by our physicians and faculty has been done for more effective methods of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the rheumatic diseases. In our clinic there were epidemiological studies in back pain, spondyloarthritis. The Raynaud’s  syndrome, systemic sclerosis and Lupus erythematosus differential diagnosis, immunogenetics during the biological treatment have been studied. Clinic was participating in the international study of the course, early diagnosis and prognostic factors of rheumatoid arthritis. We participate in the EULAR and EUSTAR international projects. At the moment students pending doctoral thesis are interested in such fields as the epidemiology of gout, hiperuricemia, cardiovascular pathology in gout and hyperuricemia, gout ultrasound, an early diagnosis of seronegative spondyloarthropathies. Students pending doctorate thesis have a wide accesses to the e- database, access to the newest medical journals, books, potential for interdisciplinary cooperation. The research is funded by a research training grant from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Study fund, other funds, according principles of project  funding.

Contacts

About us

In 1923 the first University Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases (DSVD) was established in the Lithuanian University. During the interwar period it was located in the University Hospital and (in 2001) re-established there. The heads of DSVD were prof. J. Karuža (1923–1935), prof. B. Sidaravičius (1935–1946, 1956–1969), assoc. prof. V. Juškys (1946–1952), assoc. prof. L. Fandejev (1952–1956), prof. P. Gailevičius (1969–1974, 1991–1998), prof. J. Dievaitienė (1974–1991), lecturer A. Petkevičius (1998 – 2002). Since 2002 the head of the department has been prof. S. Valiukevičienė.

DSVD has a 16-bed in-patient and 4-bed day departments. In our out-patient department more than nineteen thousand of patients are treated per year. The specialists of DSVD are experienced in dermatooncology, biologic therapy of severe psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and hidradenitis suppurativa, diagnostics of contact allergy, medical cosmetology, dermatoscopy, ultrasonography, spectrophotometric intracutaneous analysis, infrared termography and telemedicine.

The main objectives of the Department are the following: to provide personal healthcare services in dermatovenereology, to pursue studies and scientific research in this field, and to organize qualification improvement by training the medical staff.

Main partners: Ultrasound Institute of Kaunas University of Technology; Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany and others. The Unit has been collaborating with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during the EUROSTARS and FP7 projects. The outputs of the projects are new technologic prototypes prepared for commerce, publications and presentations during congresses.

Studies

DSVD is integrated into the Master of Science in Medicine studies for students from Medicine, Odontology, Nursing and Public Health faculties. Since 2009 the 4th year medical students study Skin, Venereal and Infectious Diseases according to the Problem-Based Learning model. The elective course of chosen scientific research work in dermatovenereology is offered to the medical students.

The Department is the center for qualification of dermatovenereology residents (4 year studies) and doctoral students. Family medicine, internal medicine, infectology, neurology, rheumatology, allergology and immunology residents study dermatovenereology during their post-graduate studies. In 1999 the Scientific Students’ Society of Dermatovenereology was founded.

Achievements

• In 2004, a modern phototherapy unit was opened, for the first time in Lithuania offering bath-PUVA therapy for the patients with psoriasis and lymphoma of the skin. 
• In 2010, the Center for Early Diagnostics of Skin Tumors with a modern digital dermatoscope, siascope and high frequency ultrasound was opened. The device of high frequency ultrasound was purchased within the framework of a joint project conducted in Lithuania by Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and Kaunas University of Technology Prof. K. Baršauskas Ultrasound Research Institute in cooperation with technical specialists from Germany, Portugal, and Italy by the endorsement of Lithuanian Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology.
• In 2016, the Center of Rare Skin Diseases (CRSD) has been endorsed by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania as the national reference center for the participation in the activities of the European Reference Networks in Dermatology area. Since 2017, the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno klinikos is approved member of the European Reference Network on Rare and Undiagnosed Skin Disorders (ERN-Skin).
• In 2015 and 2017 the procedures of two new laser technologies were  started, correspondingly Nd:Yag laser for vascular lesions and CO2 laser for skin tumors surgery.  
• Participation in the international research projects: FP 7 programme ‘Application of the innovative data fusion based non-invasive approach for management of the diabetes mellitus: SkinDetector‘(2012-2014), Eurostars ‘SkinMonitor: Diagnosis of skin cancer based on ICT tools‘ (2009-2012), European Surveillance System on Contact Allergy (ESSCA) (since 2004), COST action TD 1206 “Development and Implementation of European Standards on the Prevention of Occupational Skin Diseases: StanDerm (2012-2016) and also in the international project ‘Optimization of Management of the Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Baltic Region’by endorsement of the East Europe Committee of the Swedish Health Care Community (SIDA) since 2013.
• World Psoriasis Day is performed every year in collaboration with Lithuanian Society of Psoriatic Patients.
• During 2002-2014, the Department organized 20 national and 2 international conferences. The most important international event was 11^th Congress of the Baltic Association of Dermatovenereologists (BADV) held on October 17–19, 2013. International leading experts (50 lectors) and 300 participants from 24 countries such as Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Germany, Sweden, UK, Spain, Greece, Swiss, US, Canada, Japan, Ukraine and other countries participated in the Congress.

Research

The Department seeks to realize strategic and long term research plans through the research programmes Oncology and Dermatology which are proved by LUHS Senate. The implementation of strategic research plans goes through the multidisciplinary cooperation in national and international projects (EUROSTARS, FRAMEWORK 7 (FP7), COST). Basic and applied research complements each other in the Unit as the researchers use the basic knowledge in creating different diagnostic and treatment methods and algorithms for skin cancer, chronic inflammatory skin diseases and sexually transmitted infections.

The main trends of scientific activity of DSVD include:

1. Investigations of skin biophysics related with healthy ageing using technologically modified or new created devices such as ultrasound, infrared thermography, spectrophotometry and optical images for non-invasive diagnostics of skin cancer and diabetes.
2. Clinical and epidemiological studies of skin cancer, melanocytic nevi, contact allergy, acne, psoriasis and sexually transmitted infections (STI).

In the Department research pathway starts from the proceedings of the Section of Skin and Venereal Diseases of the Student Scientific Society of LUHS. The active students do their Master degree works which they could continue during residentship in dermatovenereology (4 years of studies) or doctorship.

Contacts

Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases
Address: Eivenių str. 2, LT-50161, Kaunas
Phone: +370 37 32 62 46
Fax: +370 37 32 62 46
Email: odos.veneriniu.ligu.klinika@kaunoklinikos.lt

SKAIDRA VALIUKEVICIENE, PhD
Professor and Head of the Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases
Room: 103
Phone: +370 37 32 68 06
E-mail: skaidra.valiukeviciene@kaunoklinikos.lt

The Department of Surgery at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences consists of Division of General/Abdominal Surgery and Division of Breast Surgery. Division of Abdominal Surgery is divided into the three clinical subunits:

• Sector of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Endocrine Surgery;
• Sector of Minimally Invasive and Gastrointestinal Surgery;
• Sector Colorectal Surgery.

The Division of General and Abdominal Surgery offers the highest quality emergency and elective patient care. Our surgeons are recognized experts in general surgery, colorectal surgery, endocrine surgery, hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, minimally invasive surgery, surgical oncology, transplant and bariatric surgery.

The Division of Breast Surgery is dedicated to all women's breast health needs. The center offers a comprehensive range of care to each woman. Breast multi-disciplinary team involving specialists in diagnostic mammography and breast surgery, as well as strongly supported by specialists in pathology, oncology and physical therapy always ready to provide an efficient, friendly and high quality service.

The mission of the Department of Surgery is to practice evidence based medicine, analyze causes and course of surgical diseases, and transfer the results of scientific research into the daily practice. We aim at providing qualified service and support for our patients in case of surgical ailments, teaching and training the future generation of doctors as educated, scientific-minded, responsible and upstanding individuals.

The goals of the Department of Surgery:

• to implement the results of clinical and/or basic research in to evidence-based practice;
• to provide qualified and safe medical assistance for all patients, regardless of their race, gender, nationality, political and religious beliefs;
• to organize under- and postgraduate medical studies using modern teaching concepts.

Clinical and Translational Research

The Department of Surgery prides itself on its many highly regarded investigators. Some focus predominantly on basic or translational research (the "bench"), others focus predominantly on clinical research (the "bedside") and still others are involved in both realms. The main focus of the research is on the early detection and enhanced treatment of digestive system’s malignancies, and pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. The other fields of interest include the evaluation of metabolic changes after bariatric surgery, optimization of surgical techniques, and optimization of patient management protocols.

Education

Lithuanian University of Health Sciences is a modern and internationally recognized institution, which hosts students from Lithuania, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Germany, Spain, Sweden, India, United Arab Emirates and Taiwan. The study programs delivered by the Department of Surgery are mostly problem and/or competence based. The lecturers of the Department are involved in training of fourth year (module of endocrine and bariatric surgery) and fifth year (module of digestive system pathology) medical students. The residents of general and abdominal surgery as well of other surgical specialties also undergo basic General Surgery training in our Department. General and abdominal surgery programs comprise five years of clinical education, practical skills training and translational research. Our residents have a possibility to study and work in vibrant environment of multidisciplinary tertiary level university hospital, participate in the educational and research activities of the department, and benefit from the clinical placements in the other regional hospitals all around Lithuania and/or abroad.

Academic research projects:

Projects funded by the Research Council of Lithuania:

• Project SEN-06/2015. Intestinal ageing: changes in the genetic and enteric nervous system in patients with diverticulosis
• Project SEN-01/2015. Optimizing the effectiveness of hyperthermic chemotherapy by modulation of heat shock proteins, energetic resources and adhesion in malignant cells.
• Project P‐MIP‐17‐161. Expression and clinicopathological significance of novel epigenetic markers in gastrointesnal cancers.

International programs:

• European Obesity Academy – an international research and education program for tomorrow’s leaders within obesity treatment (Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden).
• The annual Surgical Skills Course organized by the Department of Surgery, Lithuanian University of Medicine and endorsed by the European Digestive Surgery.
• The annual Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Course organized by the Department of Surgery, Lithuanian University of Medicine.
• Nordic/Baltic Pancreas Forum of Excellence. Chronic pancreatitis initiative.
• COST - European intergovernmental cooperation program in science and technology (European Cooperation in Science and Technology):
  • No Action. BM1204. An integrated European platform for pancreas cancer research: from basic science to clinical and public health Interventions for a rare disease.

Address: Eivenių str. 2, LT-50009 Kaunas, Lithuania

Tel.: (8 37) 326566
Fax: (8 37) 326179

Contacts

Goals, objectives, relevant historical facts

Kaunas Urology Department was established on 27th of September in 1955, and in 1992 the Urology Clinic was founded. It consists of LUHS Kaunas Clinic Department of Urology and LUHS Kaunas Clinics outpatient clinic of urology. Experienced doctors urologists work here. Urology clinic has 35 beds. Yearly about 2,000 patients are treated; about 1,800 operations and about 30-40 kidney transplantations are performed.

LUHS KK Urology Clinic aims: to provide modern knowledge about urology to students and residents, to develop modern science of urology, to provide professional, timely support to urological and oncourological patients based on contemporary, evidence-based urology.

LUHS Kaunas Clinic doctors promptly examine and diagnose patients with diagnostic equipment according to Western standards (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission computed tomography, ultrasound).

Kaunas Clinic is in a multi-profile hospital, and urological patients, especially the ones with cancer are advised by other high level professionals such as chemotherapy oncologists, radiotherapists, nephrologists, microbiologists, intensive care specialists. This is particularly important in selecting the right treatment tactics when rescuing patients from serious and complex conditions.

Main research activities

Oncological urology, urological gynecology, andrological urology, urinary tract stones.

Clinic researchers’ findings have been published in the national and foreign press, conferences and congresses. Urology clinics members published a professional guide "Urology" (1989), textbooks "Fundamentals of Urology (2000)," Family physician urology“ (2002), Kidney Cancer“ (2006), „Urinary tract stones“ (2006), „Bladder cancer“ (2008 ), „Erectile dysfunction“ (2012), also are coauthors of the textbook "Surgery“.

Studies

The clinic participates in the medical curriculum: for fifth-year medical students a module „Kidney and Urinary Tract Pathology and Clinical Toxicology“; for medical residents "Urology program“. Physicians are provided postgraduate biomedical training courses: Oncourology; Endourology; Prostate diseases, Modern trends in the diagnosis and treatment.

Key Projects: Lithuanian Research Council, LUHS Science Foundation, international projects

Ongoing scientific studies together with the Lithuanian Society of Urology

Residency programs, the number of students

The Urology clinic is a students education base.Every year lectures and practical works are taught for 30 groups (320 students) of fifth-year medical faculty students.Module „Kidneys and Urinary Tract Pathology and Clinical Toxicology“ is taught. The clinic held preparesurological residents.Family medicine residents and interns deepen their knowledge in urgent urology, surgery and nephrology. For training purposes the Clinic uses LUHS Kaunas Clinic Urology Departments operating rooms and consulting offices.

Clinical activities

The most important clinical activity fields: oncourology, transplantantology, plastic and reconstructive urology, kidney stone treatment and prevention, andrology, minimally invasive surgical techniques in the treatment of urologicalpatients.

All transurethral surgery is performed: resection of the prostate due to benign prostate hyperplasia, bladder tumors resection, uretrotomies and others. Minimally invasive procedures are performed - renal artery embolization, percutaneous nephrostomy, retrograde and anterogradeinner gonadal vein sclerotherapy, laparoscopic v. testicularis ligation, v.v. epigastral-testicular junction. Kidney stones are treated with modern techniques: endoscopic surgery is performed (ureteroscopy and percutaneous nefrolitotripsy with flexible or rigid instruments); extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. The clinics members are actively involvedin „Prostate cancer early detection program“/

Other achievements

Urologic Clinic doctors are active members of Lithuanian and European urology associations, are involved in activities of „Lithuania Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Association“, „Lithuanian Gynecourological Association“.

The Urology Clinic maintains close relations with Western Europe and the U.S. urology clinics, conducts exchange programs inviting foreign urologist to our clinic to share experience. Most of our urologists had internship in various foreign clinics.

Contacts