Intensive care specialist concerned over temporary cancellation of non-emergency cardiac surgeries in Manitoba
After a weekend where non-emergency cardiac surgeries were temporarily cancelled in Manitoba to make room for more intensive care patients, some health care professionals say the move – even if temporary – is a major sign of concern.
“One of the things that it tells me is just what level of chaos and crisis our health care system is in right now,” said Thomas Linner, provincial director with the Manitoba Health Coalition, a health care advocacy organization.
“Those are all life-saving surgeries,” said Linner, “Yes they were scheduled and so deemed ‘elective’ but I can tell you without them, I wouldn’t have a brother.”
In a statement, Shared Health said the postponement of three non-emergency cardiac surgeries was largely due to “continued pressure on (Manitoba) ICUs… coming from the unvaccinated population.”
“This sustained surge, in addition to our ongoing challenges in consistently staffing these extra ICU beds, are impacting our ability to provide care for other Manitobans.”
As of Monday, 92 per cent of patients in the ICU due to COVID-19 were not vaccinated.
Non-emergent cardiac surgeries resumed on Monday and Health Minister Audrey Gordon said the temporary cancellations were largely a staffing issue.
"It may have been just a blip in the system due to staffing challenges,” said Gordon, “But it is certainly not widespread or indicative of what’s happening across the regions.”
Anesthesiologist and intensive care specialist Dr. Eric Jacobsohn doesn’t agree.
“A pullback on doing elective cardiac surgeries on Friday is, again, a canary in the coal mine,” said Jacobsohn. “If we were really in great shape that would not be necessary.”
The number of Manitobans currently in the ICU due to COVID-19 is rising, from 24 patients towards the end of November to 30 patients as of Monday.
Compared to this time last year, however, Manitoba’s COVID-19 ICU admission rates are actually lower.
A comparison of Manitoba ICU admissions due to COVID-19 in November and December 2020 and 2021. (Source: CTV News Winnipeg)
At the end of November and December 2020, there were between 40 and 50 patients in the ICU due to COVID-19.
Despite the lower numbers, Dr. Jacobsohn said the profile of ICU patients has changed, causing a more acute strain on the health care system.
“If we did not have the large number of unvaccinated young people with COVID, or relatively young people with COVID, staying in the ICU for extended periods of time” the province’s ICU capacity would not be breaching the 90 per cent mark," said Dr. Jacobsohn.
Last year, Manitoba alleviated ICU-related pressure by sending patients outside of the province.
That hasn’t happened yet, though Dr. Jacobsohn and the Manitoba Health Coalition both note that patients are already being moved around the province far distances.
"We know that there are people being transferred within the province of Manitoba itself, some, for whom, if they actually transferred them to another province, would be a closer drive for families,” said Linner.
“That’s the situation that we’re in right now.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.