On this page
Asset Type
Manufacturer
Model
What This Guide Helps With
This guide helps troubleshoot the Patient Tube Blocked alarm on the Cardinal Health Kangaroo OMNI feeding pump. This alarm indicates that feeding solution is not being delivered as expected because of a downstream restriction between the pump and the patient.
Common causes include kinked tubing, closed clamps, tubing pinched by the bed or patient, patient-side obstruction, formula buildup, cassette loading issues, or contamination near the occlusion sensor region.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Ensure Patient Safety First
- If the Kangaroo OMNI is connected to a patient and the Patient Tube Blocked alarm is active, treat it as an interruption in feeding delivery.
- Notify clinical staff before disconnecting tubing, clearing a blockage, or restarting feeding.
- Do not repeatedly clear the alarm without confirming that the tubing path is open.
- Use a backup feeding pump if ordered feeding cannot be restored quickly and safely.
Expected outcome: The patient is not left connected to a pump that is not delivering feeding solution.
Why it matters: This alarm means the pump believes feeding solution is no longer being delivered to the patient due to a blockage between the pump and patient.
2. Verify the Reported Alarm and Behavior
- Confirm the pump display shows Patient Tube Blocked.
- Ask staff when the alarm occurred: during active feeding, shortly after feeding was started, after the patient or pump was moved, after tubing or cassette setup, or intermittently during use.
- Check whether feeding stopped and whether the alarm returns after being cleared.
- Note the feed rate if known, since detection may take longer at very low flow rates.
Expected outcome: The Patient Tube Blocked alarm is confirmed and the timing is understood.
Why it matters: Understanding when the alarm appears helps separate a true downstream restriction from a setup, cassette, or sensing issue.
3. Inspect the Tubing Between the Pump and Patient
- Follow the tubing path from the pump outlet side toward the patient.
- Check for kinked tubing, closed clamps, tubing caught under the pump, tubing caught in the bed rail, or tubing pinched by the patient.
- Look for visible clogging, formula buildup, sharp bends, tubing pulled tight, or patient connection obstruction.
- Clear the blockage if it can be safely corrected according to clinical procedure.
Expected outcome: Tubing from the pump to the patient is open and unrestricted.
Why it matters: This alarm specifically points to a downstream blockage between the pump and patient.
4. Confirm the Feeding Set Is Properly Positioned
- Check that the feeding set and cassette are loaded correctly in the pump.
- Verify the cassette is fully seated.
- Make sure tubing is not stretched, twisted, pinched, or misrouted through the cassette area.
- Confirm the tubing is not creating false pressure from being pulled tight around the pump.
Expected outcome: The pump can sense and move fluid through the set normally.
Why it matters: A poorly seated cassette or misrouted tube can create false pressure readings or actual flow restriction.
5. Clear the Alarm and Restart Feeding
- After the tubing path has been checked and any blockage has been cleared, press Continue.
- Restart feeding according to clinical procedure.
- Observe the pump to confirm feeding resumes without the Patient Tube Blocked alarm returning.
Expected outcome: Feeding resumes without repeat downstream blockage alarms.
Why it matters: A cleared alarm after correcting the tubing path confirms an external downstream restriction was likely the cause.
6. Remove, Inspect, and Reload the Cassette
- If the alarm continues, remove the cassette from the pump.
- Inspect the cassette area for formula residue, moisture, debris, tubing not seated correctly, or contamination around the occlusion sensor region.
- Clean and dry the occlusion sensor region according to facility-approved cleaning practices.
- Reload the cassette securely.
Expected outcome: The cassette is seated correctly and the occlusion sensor area is clean and dry.
Why it matters: Contamination or moisture near the occlusion sensing area can interfere with proper pressure detection.
7. Restart Feeding After Cassette Reload
- After reloading the cassette, press Continue and restart feeding.
- Observe the pump for several minutes, especially if the alarm had been recurring quickly.
- If the pump runs normally after cleaning and reloading the cassette, document the cassette or sensor area correction.
Expected outcome: Feeding runs without repeated downstream blockage alarms.
Why it matters: This confirms whether the alarm was related to cassette seating or occlusion sensor area contamination.
8. Replace the Feeding Set
- If the alarm continues after tubing inspection, cassette reload, and sensor area cleaning, replace the feeding set.
- Prime the new set according to clinical procedure before reconnecting to the patient.
- Confirm the new set is loaded correctly and tubing is routed without restriction.
Expected outcome: The alarm clears if the original feeding set was restricted, damaged, or causing sensing problems.
Why it matters: The feeding set may have an internal restriction, kink, cassette defect, or formula buildup that is not visible externally.
9. Try a Different Pump if Needed
- If the same tubing setup works correctly on another Kangaroo OMNI pump, suspect a device-related sensing or pumping issue.
- If the alarm follows the feeding set, suspect the tubing, cassette, or patient-side line.
- Do not return a pump to service if the alarm repeats after the tubing path, cassette, sensor area, and feeding set have all been checked.
Expected outcome: The issue is isolated as pump-related or feeding-set/patient-line related.
Why it matters: Swapping the pump or set helps avoid replacing the wrong item or returning a faulty pump to service.
If the Problem Persists
If the Patient Tube Blocked alarm continues after checking the downstream tubing, clearing visible restrictions, cleaning and drying the occlusion sensor region, reloading the cassette, and replacing the feeding set, external and common causes have been ruled out.
Remove the pump from service.
Label it Out of Service and send it for repair or bench evaluation.
Persistent Patient Tube Blocked alarms may indicate an internal occlusion sensing, cassette interface, or pump mechanism problem.
Clinical Use Tip
Never troubleshoot a Patient Tube Blocked alarm on an active patient without clinical awareness. Do not repeatedly clear the alarm while the patient remains connected unless the tubing path has been verified open. Move the patient to a backup device first if feeding delivery cannot be restored quickly and safely.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Kangaroo OMNI feeding pump reported Patient Tube Blocked alarm during feeding. Staff stated feeding stopped and formula was not being delivered to the patient."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Downstream tubing between pump and patient was kinked, causing restricted flow and Patient Tube Blocked alarm."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Cleared tubing restriction, verified cassette was seated correctly, pressed Continue, restarted feeding, and confirmed pump operated without recurring alarm. Returned pump to service."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Alarm behavior
- Accessories swapped
- Power behavior
- Environmental factors
- Indicator lights
- Final device status
Final Thought
The Patient Tube Blocked alarm should be treated as a real delivery interruption until proven otherwise. Start with patient safety, inspect the tubing path from pump to patient, verify cassette seating, and clean the sensing area before suspecting internal failure. Good documentation confirms what was checked, what corrected the issue, and whether the pump was safe to return to service.
That is successful troubleshooting.