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By paNOW Staff

EPIDURAL

Shortage of epidurals catheters impacting Sask. hospitals

Jul 22, 2022 | 5:00 PM

The shortage of catheters for epidurals is already impacting many Saskatchewan health centres, including the Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert.

Earlier this week, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) said it’s preparing for a shortage of epidural catheter kits, which are used to manage pain during childbirth and caesarean sections, as well as major abdominal and chest surgeries.

According to the SHA, the shortage is due to supply chain issues that stretch across North America. In response, the health authority is “asking expecting families to review pain management options with their care providers.”

The SHA said it is trying to procure more of the kits and is working to ensure existing supplies are being used optimally.

Speaking to paNOW on Friday, Dr. Joanne Siverston couldn’t provide specific numbers but mentioned this has already affected deliveries at places like Victoria Hospital.

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“I’ve been on call for the last two days and I had to provide alternate methods of analgesia for a patient who was close to delivery and would have liked an epidural, but we were able to help her as much as possible with IV medications instead.”

Dr. Mateen Raazi also spoke on the issue saying they have no timeline as to when more of these catheter kits could be arriving.

“Our supply chain colleagues and other colleagues who are experts are keeping us informed. We are working together as a system to see to what extent we need to continue our mitigation strategies and right now we are. We are hoping it lasts for a very short time and it disappears quickly but we are ready and prepared for all the alternative methodology that we need to use for pain control and helping our patients.”

Raazi added so far, they have enough supply of other pain relief options such as analgesics and Pudendal Blocks.

Meanwhile, Adreanna Boucher, a former doula in Prince Albert spoke on the use of epidurals, saying if women are well supported during birth and equipped beforehand with different coping techniques, they will have a better chance of feeling they can manage birth without an epidural.

“There are also other medical pain management options that have less associated risk than an epidural,” Boucher said in an email to paNOW.

Shortages of the catheters have been reported in Saskatchewan, as well as B.C., Alberta, and Manitoba.

–With files from 650 CKOM

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @princealbertnow