Hospitals in Arizona are facing a critical shortage of IV fluids, prompting several facilities to postpone elective surgeries to conserve supplies.

PHOENIX — The shortage stems from Hurricane Helene’s damage to Baxter International’s production facility in North Carolina, which is one of the primary sources of IV fluids in the U.S.

According to Purvi Parikh, M.D., of the Arizona Medical Association, hospitals are being urged to ration and carefully manage their available resources.

“The plant aims to resume operations this week, but it remains uncertain whether they will meet the high demand as many hospitals have been without fluids for weeks,” Parikh stated.

IV fluids play a vital role in emergency care, including trauma cases, severe allergic reactions, and resuscitation. Parikh highlighted the lack of alternative suppliers, noting, “There really aren’t any reserves or backup manufacturers for a situation like this.” She expressed concerns over relying on international shipments for necessary supplies.

As of October 14th, Banner Health, one of Arizona’s largest health systems, has begun delaying elective surgeries across its facilities to ensure adequate supply for emergency cases. “While we’ve received some partial shipments and implemented strict conservation measures, our current supply is insufficient to safely maintain our usual volume of surgeries,” Banner stated.

HonorHealth is monitoring supply chain issues closely but reported no impact on patient care thus far. Meanwhile, Mayo Clinic has indicated that it is assessing its inventory and intends to continue surgeries as scheduled.

Parikh warned it may take a considerable time before supplies can return to normal levels due to the extensive impact of the hurricane. “Even once they’re operational again, it will likely take time to reach full production capacity,” she said.