Twin Cities hospitals cancel surgeries amid IV fluid shortage concerns after Hurricane Helene
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Amid concerns over a possible IV fluid shortage after Hurricane Helene shut down a medical supply manufacturing plant in North Carolina, hospitals in the Twin Cities are canceling some surgeries to conserve limited stock.
What we know
Both Allina Health and M Health Fairview confirmed on Sunday that they would cancel some procedures. Allina said it would reschedule all non-emergency surgeries, while M Health Fairview said it would postpone some elective procedures. Fred Frauenfelder, of Elk River, was scheduled for arm surgery at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids on Tuesday. But he was told Friday night that his surgery was canceled. "It was a big shock to me," he said. "My procedure was going to be canceled due to some issues with these IV bags." Floodwater from the hurricane forced Baxter International to close its facility near Asheville, North Carolina, on Sept. 29. The facility manufactures IV fluid for hospitals nationwide.
