Information about the safe usage of ZOLL® ventilators on patients with highly infectious diseases.
How to Avoid Ventilator Contamination
We recommend these measures to avoid contamination:
- All ZOLL ventilators are equipped with a best-in-class internal filtration system to keep the interior airway free of contamination. Make sure that all clinical staff involved in the handling of the ventilator are informed about this feature.
- Follow the instructions for use of the ventilator and consider the WHO guidelines.
- When a ventilator is used in a hazardous environment, it is recommended that all gas delivered to the patient comes from either a pressurized medical-grade oxygen source and/or filtered ambient air passed through the Fresh Gas/Emergency Air Intake and/or through the Fresh Gas/Emergency Air inlet using an appropriate filter.
- Apply single-use consumables such as breathing circuits and to minimize the risk of cross-contamination when the ventilator has been cleaned and set up for a new patient.
- Built-in intake port bio filters as well as optional disposable bio filters can be placed between the circuit and vent intake and on the expiratory value to help prevent the spread of contaminants.
- Use a registered hospital disinfectant to disinfect the outer surfaces of ventilators during ventilation and after treating patients. Consult the hygiene specialist in your facility regarding the appropriate disinfectant and follow the manufacturer's instructions for use, particularly with respect to contact time.
- For suctioning, use a closed inline suction system only.
For more information about specific filters and ventilator circuits, click here. For guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on COVID-19, please click here. For more information, please contact us.
For additional information on the operation of ZOLL ventilators in hazardous environments, click here.
FAQs about Operating a ZOLL Ventilator
Can the ZOLL Ventilator connect to a low-oxygen source (e.g., flow meter or oxygen concentrator)?
Yes, a 3-Liter ZOLL Reservoir accessory can be used with the ZOLL Ventilator to connect to low-flow O2 sources to provide supplemental O2. When low-flow O2 sources are used, continuous SpO2 monitoring is critical to ensure appropriate oxygenation of the patient.
Can the ZOLL ventilator be used for both invasive and non-invasive ventilator support of a patient?
Yes, the ZOLL ventilator can be used for invasive and non-invasive ventilation.
What happens if the high pressure oxygen supply source connected to the ZOLL ventilator no longer provides oxygen?
The ZOLL ventilator continues to provide ventilation support with 21% FiO2. A high-priority alarm will be activated to alert the user to the situation, which the user can resolve via ZOLL’s Smart Help™ technology.
Can the ZOLL ventilator be used continuously?
Yes, the ZOLL ventilator is capable of continuous use when supplied with external AC or DC power. After 720 hours of continuous use, a low-priority alarm will alert the user to restart the ventilator, enabling it to conduct a self-test.
Which Heat and Moisture Exchanging Filters (HMEF) are compatible with a ZOLL ventilator?
The ZOLL ventilator can be used with any standard HMEF. The user should ensure that the deadspace of the HMEF is appropriate for the patient.
How often should the patient circuit be changed?
Breathing circuits should not be changed on a routine basis; change the breathing circuit only if it has been soiled or damaged. For more information, please refer to Han, Liu. Respir Care 2010;55(4):467– 474.
How should the ZOLL ventilator be cleaned and disinfected?
To clean and disinfect a ZOLL ventilator, wipe down the controls and the entire outside of the equipment with a compatible disinfectant (e.g. sodium hypochlorite solution of 0.05% or 500 ppm for non-metal surfaces). For additional information regarding the operation of the ZOLL ventilator, please click here.
Is possible to connect multiple patients at the same time to a ZOLL ventilator?
ZOLL does not recommend connecting more than one patient to the ventilator, based on the COVID-19 Joint Statement from the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (ASPF), Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), American Association of Critical‐Care Nurses (AACN), and American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), all of whom stated that "sharing mechanical ventilators should not be attempted because it cannot be done safely with current equipment." Visit https://www.aarc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/032620-COVID-19-press-release.pdf for the complete statement.
Is possible to do alveolar (lung) recruitment maneuvers with a ZOLL ventilator?
Yes. How and when to apply alveolar recruitment maneuvers should always follow the policies and procedures of your organization. Visit https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5863152/pdf/jtd-10-01-85.pdf for additional information.
Is the sound of the ZOLL ventilator the compressor operating?
Yes. The ZOLL ventilator uses a patented 12-valve rotary compressor that is extremely energy efficient. It is designed to reduce the consumption of oxygen, which is critically valuable in the COVID-19 environment where the availability of oxygen may be a limited resource. Placement of a bacterial/viral filter in the Fresh Gas inlet will reduce the sound of the compressor.
Can a custom configuration be stored on the ZOLL ventilator?
Yes. To save a configuration that you want to use routinely, press the Menu button, use the dial to highlight Powerup Settings, and press the Accept button. Use the dial to highlight Custom Settings, press the Accept button, and press Accept again to store the current setting as the Custom settings that appears in the Start Menu.
Can the default start settings be configured?
A custom configuration can be stored as previously indicated. The default Adult, Pediatric, and Mask CPAP settings are fixed to allow safe initiation of ventilation for their patient populations.
What is the battery operating time of the ZOLL ventilator?
Starting with a fully charged battery, the ZOLL ventilator will run for 10 hours using battery power under normal operating conditions.