Surgeries planned for Monday were canceled across the metro area as hospitals in the state and nationwide work to conserve IV fluids due to a severe shortage.
Baxter International, which supplies 60% of the country’s IV fluids, caused significant supply chain disruptions after its manufacturing plant in North Carolina shut down last week due to flooding and damage from Hurricane Helene.
As the situation worsens, concerns are growing for patients who are left waiting.
Yvonne Hemze from Farmington recently discovered she has a cancerous mass in her left kidney and had scheduled surgery for October 8 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. She described her condition as “fairly urgent,” expressing fear that delaying surgery could lead to worsening health. After receiving a cancellation call on Sunday, she is now uncertain about when her surgery can be rescheduled. Hemze expressed frustration, stating, “The longer it takes, the more life-threatening it’s gonna get. So it pissed me off.”
Dr. Rahul Koranne, President and CEO of the Minnesota Hospital Association, noted that all hospitals in the state are conserving IV fluids. When asked about the timeline for resolving the shortage, he explained that it depends on how quickly other manufacturing plants can increase supply and when Baxter can resume operations. He acknowledged the current challenges hospitals face and emphasized their commitment to patient care.
While Dr. Koranne couldn’t provide specific numbers on postponed procedures, he mentioned that some hospitals, including the Allina Health system—which encompasses Abbott Northwestern Hospital—have already made adjustments.
An Allina Health spokesperson stated that the organization’s primary focus is patient safety and that they are temporarily postponing non-emergency surgeries to prioritize urgent cases.
M Health Fairview also announced proactive measures to manage their supply, which includes modifying inventory management and adjusting elective procedures to conserve IV fluids.
Hennepin Healthcare indicated they are also addressing IV product management and have had to cancel or reschedule some non-emergent surgical procedures, notifying affected patients.
Dr. Koranne explained that hospitals are postponing non-emergency surgeries to ensure that care continues for patients with more critical needs.
Meanwhile, Hemze is anxiously waiting for updates, questioning how hospitals determine the urgency of cases. “If I want to live, it’s not elective. To me, that makes it life-threatening,” she remarked.
In an update, Baxter International reported they have recovered some IV fluids from the damaged plant and are shipping those out temporarily. The company added that some international plants are increasing production to supply the U.S. as the North Carolina site remains out of commission.
Health Partners and Ridgeview Health System have not canceled any procedures yet, with Ridgeview still planning its conservation strategy.
HealthPartners stated they are closely monitoring IV fluid supplies and developing strategies to manage inventory, which may involve adjustments to planned procedures as needed.
Allina Health issued a comprehensive statement acknowledging the ongoing challenges caused by Hurricane Helene’s impact on Baxter’s facility, detailing their efforts to ensure patient safety and care quality during this temporary disruption.
They are collaborating with various organizations to explore options for increasing supplies and have been directly contacting affected patients regarding surgery schedule changes.
