Labą dieną - Hello
Population: 2 862 380 (2023)
Colorectal Surgeons: 17
Societies: Lithuanian Surgeons Association, Lithuanian Society of Coloproctology
ESCP Representative:
National Examination: No
Journal(s): Medicina, Lietuvos chirurgija
Lithuania is a country on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. It shares borders with Latvia, Poland, Belarus, and Russia. The border of Lithuania with Belarus and Russia is also an external border of the EU. Lithuania's capital is Vilnius.
Lithuania regained its independence on March 11, 1990. The name 'Lietuva' (Lithuania) was first mentioned in 1009. From the 13th century until 1795, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL) existed, incorporating at various times parts of present-day Belarus, a significant portion of Ukraine, as well as parts of current Russia (Smolensk, Briansk, Kursk), present-day Poland (Palenkė), Latvia, and Estonia. In the 15th century, it was the largest country in Europe. The GDL was a multi-ethnic state known for its linguistic, religious, and cultural diversity, as well as tolerance.
Coloproctology in Lithuania has a history of 500 years. In 1509 the first organisation (Fraternitas Chirurgorum Vilnensium) was founded dealing with wounds and treatment of fractures and haemorrhoids. The professional training of medical specialists in Lithuania was started in 1781, following the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine at the Vilnius Academy. Professor J. Frankas in his book 'Practical Medical Advice' described the causes of the rectal cancer, its spreading, course, treatment and consequences. Four dissertations were defended on the topic of proctology: in 1812 by M. Galenzovskis (Mathias Galenzowski, lithvanus, 'De Haemorrhoidibus in genere, et praecipue de cura haemrrhoidum coecarum'), in 1816 by A. Abicht (Adolphus Abicht, erlangensis, 'De intestinorum coartatione diarrhoeae chronicae causa minus vulgata'), by J. Heltzl in 1827 (Josephus Heltzl, volhyniensis, 'De ani fistula'), and by H. Javlovskis (Hieronymus Jawlowski, lithuanus, 'De carcinomate intestini recti') in 1842, describing thereof the amputation of the rectum in the case of cancer, performed by J. Korženevskis on July 13, 1840 at the Vilnius Surgery Academy. This is the first such operation performed not only in Lithuania, but also in the former Russian Empire.
In Lithuania, there is no separate official subspecialisation for coloproctologists. Coloproctology is practiced by some abdominal surgeons and general surgeons, who are trained at the Vilnius University and the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences in Kaunas.
Lithuanian surgeons are united under the Lithuanian Surgeons Association, established in 2000. It consists of eight regional and specialised surgical societies. These societies and association organise national and international congresses. In collaboration with Latvian and Estonian surgeons, the Baltic Association of Surgeons (BAS) was founded. BAS organises international congresses in the Baltic countries.
Since 2010, Lithuanian and Latvian coloproctologists, in collaboration with colleagues from Belarus and Ukraine, have been organising international congresses in those countries. Due to the war in Ukraine and the changed political situation in Belarus, this activity is temporarily suspended.
The Lithuanian Society of Coloproctology was established in 1991 in Kaunas. This society is not a member of the Lithuanian Surgeons Association.
Future Plans
You can find information about the annual national or international meetings of our societies on our websites: