Québec hospitals are currently dealing with a shortage of oxygenators, a device that delivers oxygen to patients during operations, meaning some patients in need of heart surgery could face potential delays.

According to the CBC, Dr. Louis Perrault, the president of the Québec Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons, said that the province has established a contingency plan if the situation worsens. Dr. Perrault added that the first part of the strategy will have cardiac centers sharing equipment with other facilities that do not have their own supply.

"If this goes on for more than a few weeks, we could end up reducing the number of cardiac surgeries significantly," said Dr. Perrault. "The contingency plan provides a way of prioritizing patients."

The country has been dealing with a shortage of devices from Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Corporation since February 2023 due to manufacturing disruptions, according to Health Canada, the department of the Canadian government that is responsible for the country’s national health policy. Maquet Cardiopulmonary GmbH, another supplier of oxygenators, had to recall some of their products last year.

"Two suppliers continue to deliver products, but in smaller quantities than we want," said Joël Clément, a spokesperson for the Québec Heart and Lung Institute. "We are closely monitoring the situation."

Health Canada said that it believes the Terumo Cardiovascular oxygenator shortage will be over by April.