Department of Anaesthesiology

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The department of anaesthesiology provides specialised anaesthesiology support in 9 surgical units (general surgery, coloproctology, paediatrics, maxillofacial, ear, nose and throat diseases, urology and brachytherapy, orthopaedics-traumatology, plastic and reconstructive surgery) and at the Lithuanian Ophthalmology Centre located in Kaunas Clinics. Pain-relieving procedures are performed in the Ophthalmology Department, for operated patients and patients during examinations in the auxiliary rooms – bronchology, endoscopy rooms, and in the Pain Treatment sub-unit.

The department employs 48 specialised anaesthesiologists-reanimatologists and 76 anesthesia and intensive care nurses and 10 support staff.

Modern anaesthetics are used for anaesthesia. During anaesthesia, the depth of anaesthesia is monitored using entropy devices, myorelaxation is controlled using muscle stimulators. Central regional anaesthesia and peripheral nerve plexus blockades are widely used.

Since 2005, at the Central Unit of Anaesthesiology Department, two units and 21-bed Intensive Monitoring sub-unit (resuscitation RI-1, RII) began to function, where 24 hours a day using epidural, intravenous continuous or patient-controlled analgesia, patients are observed and anaesthetised after surgeries until complete stabilisation of their condition.

With the expansion of various surgical profiles, the methods of specialised anaesthesiologic assistance were also improved in parallel, during complex surgeries of the liver, as well as liver transplantation, trachea and bronchi, kidney transplantation, radical reconstructive urological and proctological, joint endoprosthesis, microsurgery, and hearing restoration surgeries. More than 30,000 anaesthesia (for newborns, children and adults) are performed using various anaesthesia techniques per year.

The Anaesthesiology of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit provides specialised anaesthesiologic assistance to patients undergoing surgery, patients with gynaecological diseases, and women in labour under general or regional anaesthesia. Mothers giving birth via natural channels are anaesthetised using epidural analgesia or other modern analgesia methods. In resuscitation ward I-1 ( R I-1 ), patients with a gynaecological profile and women in labour are monitored, nursed and treated. Mothers with preeclampsia or eclampsia are also treated there.

The doctors of the Neurosurgery Anaesthesiology Unit provide specialised anaesthesiologic support to patients in the Mixed Trauma Unit and to patients operated on in the Department of Neurosurgery due to head or spinal injuries, tumours, vascular pathology and other surgical diseases in this area. The department’s doctors work in eight operating theatres and auxiliary rooms. The anaesthesiology doctors of the Department of Neurosurgery have mastered and perform various methods of general and regional anaesthesia. Anaesthesia is performed on patients of various age groups: both newborns and elderly patients.

Specialised anaesthesiologic assistance is provided 24 hours a day.

History

In 1946, the faculty and hospital surgery department (2 departments) were established, Jaržemskas – was the Head of the Department. Anaesthesia was performed using open mask ether anaesthesia only for complex surgeries. Most surgeries were performed using local infiltration anaesthesia. On 6 June 1955, V. Mikalauskas performed the first endotracheal intubation without a laryngoscope. On 1 February 1958, the position of doctor anaesthesiologist was introduced in departments by the order of the Ministry of Health. J. Gumauskas became the first anaesthesiologist to perform DPV with an SP-2 automatic respirator. The appearance of the DPV device marked the beginning of the development of endotracheal anaesthesia. In 1958-1961, emergency and major surgeries were performed under general anesthesia with intubation and manual artificial lung ventilation (MAV). The Department of Anaesthesiology was established (Head – J. Gumauskas), 7 anaesthesiologists were already providing anaesthesiologic assistance. In 1975, the Department of Anaesthesiology-Reanimatology was established at the Kaunas Medical Institute (headed by Prof. A. Lukoševičiūtė, 1975–1997). In 1997, the Anaesthesiology Department was established, which consisted of the central, neurosurgery and obstetrics-gynaecology anaesthesiology units. After the establishment of the Anaesthesiology Department, new methods of anaesthesia and postoperative pain relief were introduced, and the number of performed anaesthesia constantly increased. In order to effectively apply anaesthesiologic support before and after surgical interventions, the structure of the Department of Anaesthesiology expanded in October 2002, the Pain Treatment sub-unit began to function, and in December 2005, – Intensive Monitoring sub-unit (12-bed unit).

Since December 2005, the structure of the Anaesthesiology Department was supplemented by the Anaesthesiology sub-unit of the Oncology Hospital, Branch of Kaunas Clinics (Head Doctor – Irina Semakina). In 2009, 73 anaesthesiologists-reanimatologists and 122 anaesthesia and intensive care nurses worked in the Department  of Anaesthesiology. The work of the department is coordinated by administrators Inga Tamošiūnienė, Aušra Geivelienė, Kristina Sederevičiūtė and Ingrida Bielskienė

The main goals of the Anaesthesiology Department

• To prepare highly qualified anaesthesiology-reanimatology specialists, improving traditional and introducing new teaching methods, conducting relevant scientific research and effective practical anaesthesiology-reanimatology activities.
• To improve the quality of healthcare services by successfully implementing the latest diagnostic and treatment technologies in order to provide as many medical services as possible based on scientific evidence.

Tasks of the Anaesthesiology Department

• To organise and conduct studies and research.
• To prepare study plans and programmes, programmes of taught subjects and specialisation plans.
• To accumulate hardware and equipment necessary for science and studies.
• Prepare textbooks, scientific articles, teaching books and other study and scientific tools.
• To ensure the continuous compliance of the qualifications of academic and scientific faculty staff with modern university requirements.
• To guarantee the quality of training programmes for anaesthesiology specialists, ensuring its compliance with European Union and national quality criteria.
• To participate in providing high-quality healthcare services, introducing new diagnostic and treatment methods .