A national shortage of IV fluids forced OHSU to postpone 108 surgeries scheduled for this week.
Hurricane Helene knocked a North Carolina factory offline, owned by Baxter International. It produces about half the IV fluids used by hospitals around the country.
The IV fluids in short supply include saline, electrolytes and dextrose. They are among the most common treatments hospitals give patients during surgeries, in intensive care, and in the emergency department…