Conversion of positive-pressure cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology laboratories to a novel 2-zone negative-pressure system during COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

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.

• Authors: Monica Truesdell, Paul Guttman, Barbara Clarke, Sheryl Wagner, Jim Bloom, Jeff DuShane, Linda Richardson, Kristen VanderElzen, Stanley Chetcuti, Hakan Oral
• Journal: Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol) Vol. 31 Issue 8 Pg. 1901-1903 (08 2020) ISSN: 1540-8167 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 32445421 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Topics

• Air Pressure
• COVID-19 (prevention & control)
• Cardiac Catheterization
• Environment, Controlled
• Hospital Design and Construction
• Humans
• Infection Control (standards)
• Pandemics
• SARS-CoV-2
• Ventilation (instrumentation)