Microsurgery: For Beginners, Super- and Nano

A unique postgraduate education event was held at Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University — a simulation training titled “Basic Techniques and Core Skills in Microsurgery – International Experience.” The event was conducted within the framework of the “Professional Development Program for Ukrainian Microsurgeons,” funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia. The training was conducted together with the Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics of ZSMPhU by an outstanding specialist, recipient of the Order of the Three Stars (Latvia), and founder of the Latvian School of Microsurgery, Olafs Libermanis.

A microsurgeon with over 35 years of experience in plastic, reconstructive, and microsurgery, Libermanis has been actively working in Ukrainian hospitals since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. He performs complex microsurgical procedures, trains Ukrainian doctors, creates microsurgery incubators, and shares his extensive expertise with local specialists. He has also developed a training system project for microsurgery teams aimed at assisting wounded soldiers and civilians — a project supported by the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Olafs Libermanis believes that anyone with motivation and patience can become a microsurgeon. That is why practicing physicians from all medical specialties were invited to participate in the simulation training, where microsurgical skills were taught using basic tools and simple models.

The event began with hospital rounds and clinical case discussions in the Traumatology and Orthopedics Department of City Hospital No. 9. The practical part of the training took place at the Department of Human Anatomy, Operative Surgery, and Topographic Anatomy. The training topics ranged from foundations of microsurgery for beginners to advanced super- and nano-microsurgical techniques. A key component of the training was the critical analysis of clinical situations, including the discussion of real-life cases, complications, medical errors, and their possible solutions.

All training participants had the opportunity not only to deepen their theoretical knowledge and enhance their practical skills in the fields of microsurgery, plastic surgery, and reconstructive surgery. The training also contributed to developing a practical approach to organizing microsurgery education in settings with limited resources.