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Conversion of positive‐pressure cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology laboratories to a novel 2‐zone negative‐pressure system during COVID‐19 pandemic
Author(s) -
Truesdell Monica,
Guttman Paul,
Clarke Barbara,
Wagner Sheryl,
Bloom Jim,
DuShane Jeff,
Richardson Linda,
VanderElzen Kristen,
Chetcuti Stanley,
Oral Hakan
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1540-8167
pISSN - 1045-3873
DOI - 10.1111/jce.14579
Subject(s) - medicine , positive pressure ventilation , ventilation (architecture) , cardiac catheterization , covid-19 , intensive care medicine , mechanical ventilation , pandemic , cardiology , anesthesia , respiratory failure , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , mechanical engineering , engineering
During coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, there continues to be a need to utilize cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology laboratories for emergent and urgent procedures. Per infection prevention guidelines and hospital codes, catheterization and electrophysiology laboratories are usually built as positive‐pressure ventilation rooms to minimize the infection risk. However, patients with highly transmissible airborne diseases such as COVID‐19 are best caredfor in negative ventilation rooms to minimize the risk of transmission. From a mechanical and engineering perspective, positive‐pressure ventilation rooms cannot be readily converted to negative‐pressure ventilation rooms. In this report, we describe a novel, quick, readily implantable, and resource‐friendly approach on how to secure air quality in catheterization and electrophysiology laboratories by converting a positive‐pressure ventilation room to a two‐zone negative ventilation system to minimize the risk of transmission.