NC hospitals innovate with Gatorade, Pedialyte amid IV fluid shortage post-Hurricane Helene

Distribution of IV fluids to most hospitals nationwide were
reduced 40-60% after the nation’s largest manufacturer was hit by Hurricane
Helene.

The Baxter North Cove facility in Marion, N.C., produced roughly 1.5 million bags a day. The location is responsible for about
60% of the country’s supply of IV fluids.

Duke University Hospital’s Chief Quality Officer Dr. Jon Bae said there is a shortage of “a lot of the traditional IV fluids, normal saline, Lactated
Ringer’s, some of the things we use each and every day almost on every single
patient.

“I think a lot of people take for granted how commonly available these
fluids are,” he said.

Hospitals and healthcare systems are now getting creative to
conserve available material.

“For patients that are able, we’re implementing
evidence-based treatments as alternatives. That can include oral rehydration protocols.
That’s a fancy term for saying we’re going to use the ability to drink if
you’re able to,” said Dr. Abhi Mehrotra, UNC Medical Center’s vice chair of
the department of emergency medicine.

UNC Health, Duke Health and WakeMed Hospitals tell WRAL News that things like Gatorade and Pedialyte are being used more often to help conserve
available IV fluids for the most critical patients.

“Because we often times don’t even have to think about the
availability, we’re often ordering the fluid when an alternative strategy could
work,” said Bae.

He further explained, “We’re actually just using standard
of care for things like very mild dehydration where patients are able to take
things by mouth and have minimum symptoms. These might be things like acute
stomach viruses or bugs.”  

The Duke doctor shared the hospital is also looking at other
ways to administer antibiotics and therapeutic drugs to further conserve IVs.

Mehrotra said prior to Hurricane Helene the hospital would use Gatorade for hydrating some of UNC’s youngest patients. Doctors and nurses were “trying to avoid, especially for pediatric patients, the painful IV
stick,” she said.

In a statement to WRAL, WakeMed said: “The use of Gatorade
prior to a surgery or procedure is part of an evidenced-based protocol called
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery. Pre-hydrating has proven to help patients
with recovery.”

A hospital spokeswoman said that Gatorade is also now being
used in some cases for post-surgery care when patients can tolerate swallowing.

Baxter has stated its goal is to resume operation in phases
at the North Cove in phases by the end of this year.

“We do not yet have a timeline for when we expect production
to be fully restored to pre-hurricane levels,” the company shared in a statement on Oct. 9.