Event overview and why it matters
The XXV Congress of Surgeons of Ukraine (ХХV З’їзд хірургів України) brought the country’s surgical community together in Kyiv after an eight-year pause. Across two focused days (18-19 September), leaders in trauma, transplant, and perioperative care reviewed wartime lessons, debated practice standards, and aligned on pragmatic improvements that can scale across regions.
The format prioritized case-based sessions and multidisciplinary dialogue over ceremony, which suited the urgent needs of hospitals managing complex trauma, oncology, and critical-care pathways.
Clinical focus and program highlights
Sessions tracked the realities facing surgical teams today: combat trauma management and rehabilitation; thoraco-abdominal surgery; hepatopancreatobiliary updates; pediatric and adolescent surgery; endocrine and vascular procedures; urgent surgery with infection control; transplantation; endoscopy and interventional radiology; and organization of surgical care during wartime.
Cross-cutting themes included early enteral nutrition for high-risk patients, anemia correction to reduce transfusion exposure, infection prevention, and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS)-consistent perioperative protocols adapted for resource variability.
Speakers at Congress of Surgeons
- Roman Zatsarynnyi, MD, PhD (Kyiv) — Head of the Intensive Care Unit, National Scientific Center of Surgery and Transplantology named after O.O. Shalimov (NAMS of Ukraine). Specialty: anesthesiology and intensive care.
- Oleksandr Petrusha, MD, PhD (Kyiv) — Hematologist of the highest category; Colonel, Medical Service; former Head, Hematology Clinic, National Military Medical Clinical Center “Main Military Clinical Hospital.” Specialty: hematology and internal medicine.
Therapies and products discussed
In perioperative nutrition, speakers reinforced early feeding and adequate protein targets for surgical patients at nutritional risk, consistent with ESPEN guidance. For anemia in the wounded and in perioperative settings where oral iron is infeasible or ineffective, discussion highlighted Ferinject® (ferric carboxymaltose) by Vifor as a hospital-grade option to restore iron stores efficiently within established safety parameters.
In clinical nutrition for ICU and post-operative care, Delta’s Priora range of clinical nutrition was referenced in dosing algorithms and route-of-feeding decisions for patients unable to meet targets orally.
Delta Medical at the event
Delta Medical served as an official partner. Our team supported two scientific talks that drew strong interest from surgeons, anesthesiologists, and intensivists:
- “The role of protein in nutritional support for surgical patients” — covered practical calculations for calories and protein using ESPEN-aligned ranges and addressed real-world barriers to early enteral feeding in ICU and step-down units. The presenter reviewed application pathways for Priora tube-feeding formats (Priora Intens, Priora Optimal, Priora Fibre+) designed for use when oral intake is not possible.
- “Anemia in the wounded” — summarized etiologies from chronic inflammation to acute blood loss, emphasizing timely iron repletion. The presentation highlighted hospital use cases for Ferinject® (ferric carboxymaltose) by Vifor within multidisciplinary pathways.
Beyond the lecture halls, physicians sampled Priora Forte ready-to-drink flavors (apricot and vanilla), providing organoleptic feedback relevant to adherence and nursing workflow. Demonstrations of Priora tube formats focused on practicalities: initiation timing, viscosity and tube compatibility, and transitions from ICU to surgical wards. Educational materials on wound care and perioperative nutrition were distributed to help standardize protocols across institutions.
Market and access insights for UA/CIS/EAEU
- Nutrition pathways: Hospitals are prioritizing earlier enteral access and higher protein targets to shorten ICU stays and reduce complications. Clinical nutrition demand is rising for ICU, oncology, and trauma wards as protocols converge on ERAS-style care.
- Anemia management: In settings with high inflammatory burden or limited time to surgery, IV iron is increasingly embedded in pathways to reduce allogeneic transfusion exposure and enable faster functional recovery.
- Procurement and reimbursement: Centralized and hospital-level tenders continue to favor clinically differentiated products with robust guideline alignment and predictable supply. For Ukraine, documentation supporting ESPEN-consistent protocols, stability of local warehousing, and clinician training are decisive.
- Regional deployment: CIS/EAEU centers mirror these priorities where budgets allow. Adoption accelerates when vendors provide bedside tools (dosing cards, enteral initiation checklists) and in-service training for surgical nurses and dietitians.
About Delta Medical
Delta Medical (Delta Medical Promotions AG, Zurich) is a Swiss pharmaceutical and medical-device marketing and distribution group operating across Ukraine, CIS, and the EAEU. We specialize in regulatory affairs, market access, medical affairs, and specialty therapy operations, including clinical nutrition. To explore partnership opportunities, visit www.deltaswiss.eu.
