Surface temperature of two portable ventilators during simulated use under clinical conditions.

During performance testing of portable ventilators, it was noted that an area on the case of one of the devices, the LTV 1000, was noticeably warm. This investigation examined the case temperatures of this portable ventilator and a portable ventilator currently in the Department of Defense inventory, the Uni-Vent 754, during simulated clinical conditions. Both have an integral method of producing compressed air. The hottest portion of the cases of the LTV 1000 and the Uni-Vent 754 reached temperatures of 39.9 to 46.7 degrees C and 35.4 to 35.9 degrees C, respectively, across a range of simulated clinical conditions. Investigations have found the risk of burns to increase with temperatures greater than 40 degrees C. The cases of these devices are not designed to be in contact with the skin. Personnel should properly position these and other devices during patient transport and not allow contact with the patient's skin.