Some surgeries have been postponed indefinitely as all Minnesota hospitals stockpile IV fluids amid ongoing shortages

Surgeries scheduled for Monday were canceled across the metro as hospitals across the state and across the country scrambled to stock up on IV fluids amid widespread shortages.

Baxter International supplies 60 percent of the nation's IV fluids, causing a major supply chain disruption after the company's North Carolina manufacturing plant was shut down last week due to flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Helen.

As the decline continues, fears are growing for patients with no end to shortages.

Yvonne Hemze of Farmington learned last month that she had a cancerous mass on her left kidney.

Hemze said he immediately scheduled the first available surgery at Abbott Northwestern Hospital for Oct. 8.

Asked how urgent his condition was, Hemze said his understanding was “it was fairly urgent.”

“It has to go because it's taking over your whole kidney,” he continued. “It was devastating. I was scared.”

Then, on Sunday, she got the cancellation call, and wasn't told when it could be rescheduled

“The longer it takes, the more lethal it will be. So it bothered me,” Hemje said. “My risk is that it's going to spread. It's going to spread.”

Hemje is far from alone. In an interview Monday, Dr. Rahul Korane, president and CEO of the Minnesota Hospital Association, said every hospital in the state is storing IV fluids.

When asked if there was an end to the shortage and when patients could expect rescheduling, he said, “Well, it all depends on how fast, you know, other manufacturing plants can increase their supply and how fast Baxter can. Come back online.”

“It's a reality that, you know, we're dealing with now, and we're trying to do the best we can in our caring mission.”

Dr. Koran could not say how many procedures have been suspended indefinitely, but he said only a few hospitals have adopted it, including Allina Health System, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Fairview Health Services and Hennepin Health Care.

“Alina Health's priority is patient safety. As part of our conservation efforts, we have temporarily adjusted the scheduling of non-urgent surgeries and other procedures so that patients with the most urgent needs receive the care they need,” an Allina Health spokesperson wrote in an updated statement Monday.

MHealth Fairview issued a statement that said, in part, “In response to the shortage, we are taking proactive steps to manage our supply and prioritize patient needs. This includes changing our inventory management, centralizing storage, and selectively storing IV fluids.” Adjust procedures.”

A spokesperson for Hennepin Healthcare said the hospital is “proactively addressing IV product handling concerns, conservation strategies and potential impacts to ensure continuity of care for our patients. As a result, we have had to cancel or reschedule some non-emergent (surgical) procedures, and these changes to patients Being informed about.”

“Hospitals are looking at unexpected, unnecessary surgeries and postponing them so that patient care can continue uninterrupted for patients with more serious conditions,” said Dr. Koran.

As Hemze waits anxiously by the phone, he questions how hospitals are drawing that line.

“If I want to live, it is not optional. To me, that makes life threatening,” he said.

Baxter International, in a late afternoon update, said it had recovered some IV fluids from the affected plant and was sending them out to help in the short term. The company also said some of its international plants have begun ramping up production to ship to the United States as the North Carolina site is out of commission.

We also reached out to Health Partners and the much smaller Ridgeview Health System. No one has ever canceled the procedure. Ridgeview was still planning its conservation strategy as of this report.

Health Partners released the following statement:

“We are closely monitoring our IV fluid supply and use. We are actively developing strategies to manage inventory, which may include adjusting planning procedures as needed. We will continue to thoughtfully and appropriately address patient needs as the situation evolves.“

Full statement from Allina Health:

“Our thoughts are with the community recovering from the catastrophic damage of Hurricane Helen. The Baxter manufacturing facility in North Carolina is temporarily offline due to this significant weather event, causing IV fluid shortages that are affecting Allina Health and other healthcare systems across the country. This is a rapidly evolving situation. Allina Health is working with the Minnesota Hospital Association, the American Hospital Association and state and federal officials to ensure all options are on the table to increase supply to meet the care needs of our patients.

Allina Health's priority is patient safety. As part of our conservation efforts, we have temporarily adjusted the scheduling of non-urgent surgeries and other procedures to ensure that patients with the most urgent needs receive the care they need. Rescheduling and delaying non-urgent surgeries and procedures are decisions Allina Health does not take lightly, as we understand the impact it has on our patients and our providers. We are contacting patients directly who may be affected by this schedule change and will work to prioritize rescheduled procedures as soon as we are able to do so safely.”

Full statement from Hennepin Healthcare:

“Hennepin Healthcare is proactively addressing IV product handling concerns, conservation strategies and potential impacts to ensure continuity of care for our patients. As a result, we have had to cancel or reschedule some non-emergent (surgical) procedures, and patients are being notified of these changes.

We are also reaching out to other healthcare systems to coordinate the efforts and resources needed during these challenging times.”

Full statement from MHealth Fairview:

“Due to permanent damage to Baxter's North Cove, North Carolina manufacturing facility from Hurricane Helen, our hospital system is experiencing reduced intravenous (IV) fluid supplies.

In response to shortages, we are taking proactive steps to manage our supply and prioritize patient needs. This includes changing our inventory management, centralizing storage and adjusting selection procedures for storing IV fluids. We are contacting patients who may be affected by the surgery schedule change.

Rescheduling and delaying surgery are decisions we do not take lightly, and we understand the impact it has on our patients. We are working closely with the Minnesota Hospital Association, state and federal officials, supply chain leaders and our clinical teams to evaluate additional relief options and ensure that safety and quality of care remain uncompromised as we manage this temporary disruption.“