By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Elective surgeries postponed due to residue found on some surgical instruments

Nov 3, 2016 | 5:39 PM

LETHBRIDGE – A number of elective surgeries that were scheduled at the Chinook Regional Hospital for Friday (Nov. 4) have been postponed, due to a residue found on some surgical instruments.

In addition to the 25 being postponed on Friday, Alberta Health Services noted that seven elective surgeries on November 2 and 3 also had to be pushed back for the same reason.

All urgent and emergency surgical procedures will go ahead, with AHS noting that the residue may be connected to the cleaning and sterilization process, and is considered on the low end for a possible risk to patient safety.

A full investigation has been launched into the cleaning and sterilization process, with the water systems and medical device processing equipment also being tested.

Work has already started to re-establish the elective surgery schedule for next week, for things like gynecological, orthopedic and cosmetic procedures.

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Those patients impacted have been contacted directly with new dates set up for most of them.