Rebecca Pohle, Clemens Schiestl, Ingo Königs, Wera Wendenburg, Jost Kaufmann, Iris Steugck, Daniel Acero Moreno, Tobias Klein

Background:
Severe burn injuries in children require highly specialized, multidisciplinary care that differs from adult burn management. In addition to acute surgical treatment, pediatric burn care encompasses age-specific anaesthesia and intensive care, specialized nursing, rehabilitation, pain management, psychological support, and family-centered care. In Ukraine, dedicated pediatric burn services have not yet been structurally established; severely burned children are primarily treated in burn centers designed for adults.

Project:
Supported by the German GIZ, the first specialized center for severely burn-injured children is currently being established at a leading pediatric hospital in Kyiv. The aim is to develop a comprehensive interdisciplinary service based on international standards while adapting treatment pathways, protocols, and training to local infrastructure, resources, and healthcare needs. The long-term goal is sustainable integration into the Ukrainian healthcare system.

Clinical experience and rationale:
Our institution has previously treated several Ukrainian children with severe burn injuries. These cases have provided direct insight into the considerable medical, psychological, and social burden of months of complex treatment far from home. Beyond the physical consequences of severe burns, we have witnessed the challenges faced by children and their families when prolonged treatment takes place in an unfamiliar country, separated from their usual environment, language, healthcare system, and social support. This experience has reinforced the importance of strengthening specialized pediatric burn care within Ukraine.

Implementation and outlook:
The presentation will describe the stepwise development of the center, focusing on staff training, interdisciplinary team building, implementation of standardized treatment pathways, and adaptation of international pediatric burn standards to the local context. Initial experiences, challenges, and opportunities for sustainable development and future expansion will be discussed. The project aims to establish a locally anchored model of care that enables children with severe burns to receive complex treatment closer to their families and home environment.