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What This Guide Helps With
This guide helps troubleshoot the FG LOW OR LEAK alarm on a Drager Apollo anesthesia machine. This alarm indicates that the fresh-gas setting may be too low, or that a leak is preventing proper gas delivery through the breathing system.
A fresh-gas shortage or leak can affect ventilation, oxygen delivery, anesthetic delivery, and overall circuit reliability. The warning priority may change depending on how severe the fresh-gas shortage is.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Ensure Patient Safety First
- Have anesthesia staff assess the patient immediately if the alarm occurs during a case.
- Confirm the patient is being ventilated and oxygenated safely.
- If the alarm cannot be corrected quickly, support the patient using an alternate safe ventilation method per clinical protocol.
- Do not continue relying on the Apollo if fresh-gas delivery or circuit integrity is questionable.
Verify the Reported Alarm and Behavior
- Confirm the exact alarm displayed is FG LOW OR LEAK.
- Ask staff when the alarm occurs: startup, pre-use check, after connecting the patient circuit, during ventilation, after changing fresh-gas settings, or after changing breathing circuit components.
- Observe whether the alarm clears when fresh-gas flow is increased.
- Confirm whether the alarm appears consistently or only during certain ventilation conditions.
Increase Fresh-Gas Flow
- Have qualified anesthesia staff increase the fresh-gas flow setting.
- Observe whether the alarm clears.
- Confirm the selected gas flow is appropriate for the clinical situation and ventilation mode.
- If the alarm clears and no leak is found, verify normal operation before returning the machine to service.
Check the Breathing Circuit for Leaks
- Inspect the patient circuit, Y-piece, breathing bag, absorber area, sample line, water trap connection, and breathing hose connections.
- Look for loose hoses, disconnected bag tubing, damaged circuit tubing, cracked connectors, or open circuit components.
- Confirm all breathing system connections are fully seated and secure.
- Replace any suspect circuit component with a known-good accessory.
Check the CO2 Absorber and Canister Seal
- Inspect the absorber canister for proper seating.
- Confirm the canister is latched correctly.
- Check for damaged seals, cracked canister housing, or improper absorber installation.
- Reseat or replace the absorber canister if a leak is suspected.
Check the Breathing Bag and Manual Ventilation Path
- Inspect the breathing bag for holes, tears, or loose connection.
- Confirm the bag arm and bag hose are connected correctly.
- Check the APL valve position if the alarm occurs during manual ventilation.
- Verify the manual ventilation path does not have an obvious external leak.
Check the Anesthetic Gas Receiving System AGS
- Inspect the AGS connection and scavenging setup.
- Confirm the scavenging hose is connected properly.
- Check that scavenging tubing is not kinked, blocked, disconnected, or pulling abnormal suction.
- Correct any AGS setup issue before repeating the checkout or leak test.
Run a Leak Check or Machine Checkout
- Remove the machine from patient use before running checks.
- Perform the approved anesthesia machine checkout or leak test according to facility process.
- Determine whether the leak appears related to the patient circuit, breathing bag circuit, absorber area, AGS/scavenging path, or internal machine path.
- Do not assume an internal failure until external accessories and setup issues have been ruled out.
Isolate External Accessories
- Replace suspect external components one at a time.
- Check the breathing circuit, breathing bag, sample line, water trap, CO2 absorber canister, and AGS tubing.
- Repeat the leak check after each change.
- If the alarm clears after replacing an accessory, document the failed or incorrect component.
Stop When Resolved
- If increasing fresh-gas flow, correcting AGS setup, reseating the absorber, or replacing a leaking component clears the alarm, confirm the alarm does not return.
- Verify the anesthesia machine passes the required checkout.
- Return the device to service only after normal operation is confirmed.
- Document the corrected cause and final device status.
If the Problem Persists
If FG LOW OR LEAK continues after fresh-gas flow has been increased, external circuit leaks have been corrected, the AGS has been checked, and the machine still fails leak testing, remove the Apollo from service.
External causes such as low fresh-gas setting, leaking patient circuit, loose breathing bag connection, poorly seated absorber canister, damaged external tubing, and AGS setup issues should be ruled out before escalating.
Label the anesthesia machine Out of Service.
Send the device for repair or bench evaluation.
A persistent FG LOW OR LEAK alarm after external causes are ruled out may indicate an internal leak, flow measurement issue, valve issue, or internal gas delivery fault.
Clinical Use Tip
Never troubleshoot an unresolved fresh-gas or leak alarm on an active patient unless anesthesia staff determine it is safe. Move the patient to a backup device or alternate approved ventilation method first, then troubleshoot the machine after the patient is safe.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Drager Apollo anesthesia machine displayed FG LOW OR LEAK alarm during use. Staff reported concern for fresh-gas shortage or breathing system leak."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Fresh-gas flow setting was low for current use. Breathing circuit, absorber seating, breathing bag, and AGS setup were inspected. Leak check performed to isolate external causes."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Fresh-gas flow was increased, breathing circuit and absorber canister were reseated, AGS connection was verified, and machine checkout was completed. Alarm cleared and unit passed leak check. Device returned to service."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Alarm behavior
- Accessories swapped
- Power behavior
- Environmental factors
- Indicator lights
- Final device status
Final Thought
FG LOW OR LEAK should be treated as a gas delivery and breathing system integrity concern. Start with patient safety, confirm the alarm, increase fresh-gas flow, inspect the breathing circuit and AGS, and escalate when external causes are ruled out. Clear CCR documentation helps show whether the issue was corrected at setup level or required repair.
That is successful troubleshooting.