Minnesota Hospitals Postpone Surgeries Amid Ongoing IV Fluid Shortage

In Minnesota, several hospitals have canceled surgeries scheduled for Monday as they strive to conserve intravenous (IV) fluids in light of a nationwide shortage.

The supply crisis follows the shutdown of Baxter International’s North Carolina manufacturing plant due to damage from Hurricane Helene, which has resulted in significant disruptions, as Baxter supplies approximately 60% of the nation’s IV fluids.

Patients and healthcare professionals alike are growing increasingly concerned as the shortage continues without a clear resolution in sight. One affected patient, Yvonne Hemze from Farmington, had scheduled surgery for a cancerous mass in her kidney at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, only to receive a cancellation call the day before her procedure. Hemze described the situation as “devastating,” emphasizing the urgency of her condition and the risks associated with further delays.

Dr. Rahul Koranne, President and CEO of the Minnesota Hospital Association, confirmed that all hospitals in the state are currently conserving IV fluids. He noted that the timeline for when patients might expect their postponed surgeries to be rescheduled is contingent upon how quickly Baxter can restore operations and other manufacturing plants can increase their output.

Only certain hospital systems, including Allina Health, Fairview Health Services, and Hennepin Healthcare, have begun postponing non-emergency surgeries. Allina Health stated that it is prioritizing patient safety and has adjusted its surgical schedules to ensure that the most urgent cases receive timely care.

M Health Fairview has implemented proactive measures to manage its supply of IV fluids, including modifying inventory management and centralizing storage, while also adjusting elective procedures to conserve resources. Hennepin Healthcare has echoed these concerns, stating that it has had to cancel or reschedule some non-emergent surgical procedures and is actively working to ensure continuity of patient care.

In the meantime, Baxter International has reported that it is working to recover some IV fluids from the damaged facility and has ramped up production at its international plants to mitigate the shortage in the US However, the American Hospital Association has urged the Biden administration to declare a national shortage of IV solutions and invoke emergency powers to address the crisis.

KSTP.COM Eyewitness News and Stat contributed to this report.