Treatment of splenic cysts (SC) in children is variable and controversial. Depending on the size and location of these formations in the spleen, surgical correction is possible in open or laparoscopic surgery, or conservative (non-invasive) management. The result of SC treatment should be the complete elimination of the cyst cavity.

Purpose - to evaluate the results of surgical correction or conservative management of CS in children according to remote monitoring changes.

Materials and methods. We conducted the study on 265 children aged 0-17 years (mean age 11.25±4.21 years), who were examined and treated for SC. One hundred seventy-five (66.04±2.91%) children underwent surgery, and 90 (33.96±2.91%) patients received conservative treatment. We subjected all the information recorded in the medical records to statistical processing. The mentioned information could characterize the situation with the treatment process and with dynamic monitoring of this pathology to some extent.

Results. The most common localizations of cysts were the upper (33.21±2.89%) or middle segments of the spleen (29.81±2.81%). Almost every fourth patient (27.92±2.76%) with SC had pathology of other organs or systems, and every tenth (9.81±1.83%) had other diseases of the spleen. We detected residual cyst in 46.42±3.06% of patients; it underwent complete regression within 1-3 years. Residual cyst of small size (which persisted after surgical correction) regressed much faster after surgery compared with regression of cystic formation of small size in the spleen with conservative management (p<0.05).

Conclusions. Therapeutic tactics for SC in children involve different options for individual surgical correction or conservative management, depending on the location, size, relationship to the architecture of the main vessels and the variant of damage to the parenchyma of the spleen. The outcome of treatment of children with SC depends on the volume, location, etiology of the lesion, the method of correction and compliance with all recommendations in the postoperative period against the background of comorbidities.

The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local ethics committee of all participating institutions. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies.

No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.

Abstract

Aim. To evaluate the features of pharynx tonsils mucous membrane colonization by pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms by using the pharynx palatine tonsils epithelium electron microscopic examination of the patients with infectious mononucleosis and acute streptococcal tonsillitis.

Materials and methods. Two patients – patient P., 12 years old with a confirmed diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis and patient A., 8 years old with confirmed acute streptococcal tonsillitis. The patients were taken a bacteriological examination of the mucus and epithelium scraping from the surface of the pharyngeal tonsils. Tissue samples were examined in the electron microscopy laboratory of the Lviv National University.

Results and discussion. 36 tonsils epithelial tissue micro preparations of patient A. and 41 micro preparations of patient P. were studied. Streptococcus pyogenes, Str. pneumoniae, Str. viridans, Сandida albicans, as well as non-pathogenic bacteria: Diphtheroides sp., Neisseria sp., Corynebacterium spp. were identified as a result of the patient P. bacteriological examination of mucus from the surface of the pharyngeal tonsils. Staph. aureus, Str. viridans, Str. pneumoniae were identified during a bacteriological examination of patient A. Eosinophils with a two-segmented nucleus, specific granularity, and phagocytosed spherical bacteria in the cytoplasm were detected during the histological examination of the materials taken from the surface of the patient’s tonsils with acute tonsillitis. Research showed that bacteria were accumulated not only in the structure of extracellular detritus. Numerous bacteria accumulations were also found in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells in the patient with infectious mononucleosis. The cell's shape looked like a bunch of grapes.

Conclusions. The electron microscopic examination showed differences in the coccal flora localization: the extracellular localization of bacteria in the patient with acute bacterial tonsillitis and intraepithelial presence of the bacteria in the patient with tonsillitis during infectious mononucleosis were found.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and to estimate factors associated with food hypersensitivity in young children of the Lviv region in Ukraine.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional survey study was conducted between 2016 and 2017 in the Lviv region of Ukraine. A specially designed questionnaire about food hypersensitivity of young children developed and validated by M. J. Flokstra-de Blok was used after translation into the Ukrainian language. The questionnaire included 34 questions, grouped into general and detailed information. Parents of children aged 0–3 years were asked to complete the questionnaire at pre-schools and medical institutions.

Results: Among 4,500 distributed questionnaires, 3,214 (71%) were completed and processed. Parents reported that 25% of their young children had food hypersensitivity. According to the survey the most common agents involved in food hypersensitivity in young children were cow's milk (34%), egg (28%), and wheat (24%). Hypersensitivity to milk occurred in 50% of children in the age group of 1–2 years. Regional differences associated with food hypersensitivity were also found. Namely, in the Carpathians, there was more hypersensitivity to fish (27%) and honey (22%) than in other regions, while hypersensitivity to soy was detected mostly in Lviv City residents (8.5%). Unknown causes of food hypersensitivity were highly reported (34%) in the Carpathians.

Conclusion: Prevalence and some distinctiveness of food hypersensitivity revealed in four geographic and climate zones as well as in Lviv City have a considerable practical use for formulation of recommendations for children with food hypersensitivity.

УДК: 614.25

Aim. The research aims at improving the quality of rendering medical care in the urology departments of health care facilities by conducting the clinical audit with advanced study of causes of dissatisfaction of patients with the medical service provided.

Material and Methods. Sociological research included the questioning of 405 patients who were treated in the urology departments of the municipal nonprofit enterprise of the Lviv Regional Council "Clinical Emergency Hospital". The respondents estimated the quality of providing health care in the sphere of medical service, informational content, financing, the quality of diagnosis and treatment. Methods of structural-logical analysis, systemic approach and analysis, calculation of mean and relative values, calculation of satisfaction index with services provided are used in this work.

Results and Discussion. The determination of the level of respondents' satisfaction with inpatient treatment showed that, in total, that the number of dissatisfied among the interviewed were 7.16±1.28 % persons. The focus-group of such persons was singled out: patients of active working age, financially - able, mainly with higher education, most often with diagnosis of urolithiasis, who suffered from pain syndrome, with late appealing for medical care (more than 24 hours), they were operated on and waited for the quick results of treatment, even despite the positive final result of treatment. These patients demanded more attention of a doctor, were dissatisfied with the work of paramedical personnel, conflicted with ward neighbors, had claims to availability and quality of medical equipment, sanitary state of premises of the department.

Conclusions. The results of the clinical audit targeting the satisfaction of patients with medical services provided as one of the forms of receiving the patient feedback concerning the quality of medical aid, point out, on one hand, the appropriate level of availability of services, interpersonal attitudes, infrastructure, execution of technical demands as to quality and standard compliance by the staff of department. While, on the other hand, the audit results indicate the presence of dissatisfied with some certain services in the department. The focus-groups of dissatisfied make it possible to take into account the personal approaches in rendering medical aid to such categories of population, that in total will improve and increase the quality of providing medical services. Basing on the results of clinical audit, the recommendations as to the perfection of medical care management in the urology departments of health care facilities.

Background We examined the human toll and subsequent humanitarian crisis resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022.

Method We extracted and analysed data resulting from Russian military attacks on Ukrainians between 24 February and 4 August 2022. The data tracked direct deaths and injuries, damage to healthcare infrastructure and the impact on health, the destruction of residences, infrastructure, communication systems, and utility services – all of which disrupted the lives of Ukrainians.

Results As of 4 August 2022, 5552 civilians were killed outright and 8513 injured in Ukraine as a result of Russian attacks. Local officials estimate as many as 24 328 people were also killed in mass atrocities, with Mariupol being the largest (n=22 000) such example. Aside from wide swaths of homes, schools, roads, and bridges destroyed, hospitals and health facilities from 21 cities across Ukraine came under attack. The disruption to water, gas, electricity, and internet services also extended to affect supplies of medications and other supplies owing to destroyed facilities or production that ceased due to the war. The data also show that Ukraine saw an increase in cases of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Conclusions The 2022 Russia-Ukraine War not only resulted in deaths and injuries but also impacted the lives and safety of Ukrainians through destruction of healthcare facilities and disrupted delivery of healthcare and supplies. The war is an ongoing humanitarian crisis given the continuing destruction of infrastructure and services that directly impact the well-being of human lives. The devastation, trauma and human cost of war will impact generations of Ukrainians to come.