Surgery might get cancelled�� (not cancelled, went ahead)

I got a phone call this morning saying my surgery for tomorrow might be cancelled for 2 reasons, anesthesia machine is down or no beds due to covid. I get it, these reasons are out of their hands but man it’s a blow to someone who has been preparing for over 2 months, anyway won’t know for sure until very late today. I had to vent about it and here was the perfect place. Anyone that has had this happen please tell me about it

Hi Jenl5 -

This is the perfect place to vent!

Unfortunately, cancellations can happen for a myriad of reasons. Here is one I found from a past thread: Surgery cancelled this morning!!!

You may know by now if it is truly cancelled. Hopefully not, though, and they found space. But, with the pandemic increasing across the country, cancellations due to bed space/equipment needs may become more prevalent.

Well as of now it is still scheduled, it’s only 6 am, surgery not until 10:30 am, keeping my fingers crossed

So sorry this is happening to you. One of the sad things I learned during this pandemic is that anesthesia machines can be used as ventilators, so they've been getting scavenged for covid patients.

I've heard in my area that some of the children's hospitals, which are not overburdened right now, are loaning their equipment to other hospitals. But as for me, if the choice were to postpone or go through with surgery using pediatric equipment....I think I'd wait!