Shortage of IV fluids prompts Catholic Health to cancel elective surgeries

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Catholic health is going into conservation mode as it deals with a supply shortage of IV fluids.

"Hurricane Helene really affected Baxter International," said Dr. Victor Filadora,
Chief Physician Executive for Catholic Health.

The company, located in Marion, North Carolina, supplies IV fluids to hospitals in about half of the country. It is the sole provider of IV fluids for Catholic Health, and produces about 1.5 million liters of IV fluid a day.

It shut down due to damage sustained by Hurricane Helene.

"Part of our plan is to cancel elective surgeries that are not emergencies," Filadora told WBEN. "We need to make sure that we have enough for those in intensive care units, and in hospitals so that we don't run out."

Baxter is trying to get back online, while Catholic Health is also looking into other sources to supply the IV fluids.

"It's a multi-prong approach to make sure that we continue high quality and safe care for our current patients," Filadora explained.

Catholic Health has made the decision to cancel elective surgeries requiring IV fluids for the remainder of the week. After that, decisions will be made on a day-by-day basis.

'We're working with our physicians and hospital team to see what allocation we have, and what we think is safe. After that, we're trying to determine what is urgent and emergent. If patients have conditions that can be put off a little bit, their physicians and their offices are contacting those patients," Filadora added.