Many Surgical Procedures Are Being Canceled … And Hurricane Helene Is To Blame

It’s easy to see the impact Hurricane Helene had on Western North Carolina just by taking a glance at the communities devastated by the powerful storm. But the true toll extends far beyond those directly in Helene’s path.

Katie’s story

Tired of living a life dominated by her persistent pelvic pain, Katie Adase agreed to exploratory surgery that would hopefully determine the root of her problem. Just days before she had been scheduled to go under the knife, however, the surgical team advised her that the procedure was called off because of an industry-wide shortage of IV fluids.

A factory in North Carolina that had been responsible for producing well over half of all domestic IV fluid was forced to halt its operations due to flooding caused by the storm.

Although Adase has received a new date for her postponed surgery, she said that doesn’t solve all her problems.

“So I’m racking up medical debt,” she said. “I’m racking up debt from traveling. I’m feeling guilty that, you know, my husband took off work for nothing.”

Common themes

Unfortunately, there are many others with similar tales in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

In some hospitals, patients are being instructed to drink Gatorade because IV fluids aren’t available.

In other cases, surgeries are being rescheduled or canceled indefinitely. Orthopedic, bladder, and heart procedures are among the most likely to be called off due to the shortage.

Although the impact can be felt in hospitals across the U.S., there is some evidence that things are starting to improve. The Defense Production Act gives the federal government the authority to implement measures aimed at restarting production and importing fluid from other countries until the flooded factory reaches full production — and that’s not likely to happen until next year.

Chris Agee October 31st, 2024

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