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Manufacturer
Model
What This Guide Helps With
Startup or system-test failures caused by power, gas supply, breathing-system setup, accessories, connections, or other externally correctable conditions.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient and Maintain Anesthesia Support
Do not troubleshoot an unreliable anesthesia machine while a patient depends on it. Transfer care to another verified anesthesia machine or approved backup method before beginning troubleshooting.
Inspect for smoke, unusual odor, excessive heat, liquid intrusion, or obvious physical damage. If any are present, disconnect the unit from clinical use and stop troubleshooting.
Expected outcome: Patient care is safely maintained independently of the affected machine, with no immediate electrical or mechanical hazard identified.
2. Confirm the Exact Startup or Test Failure
Power the machine under controlled conditions and reproduce the complaint when safe. Record the point at which startup or the system test stops, any displayed message, affected subsystem, and whether the condition is repeatable.
Do not assume that a failed system test indicates an internal electronic fault.
Expected outcome: The failure is clearly identified and can be associated with a specific startup or test stage.
3. Verify AC Power and Basic Power-Up
Confirm the power cord is fully seated and undamaged. Verify the machine is connected to a known-good hospital-grade receptacle and that normal AC-power indication is present.
If power is intermittent, test the receptacle or move the unit to a verified outlet as appropriate.
Expected outcome: The machine receives stable AC power and begins its normal startup sequence. If startup and system testing now complete normally, troubleshooting can stop after final verification.
4. Verify Required Gas Supplies
Confirm required pipeline hoses are correctly connected, fully seated, undamaged, and connected to the proper gas outlets. Check that any cylinder supplies required for the test are installed and available according to facility practice.
Inspect hoses and connectors for visible damage, kinks, loose fittings, or incorrect connections.
Expected outcome: Required gas supplies are available and correctly connected. If the system test completes after correcting the gas supply, the issue is resolved.
5. Inspect the Breathing System and External Components
Verify the breathing system is assembled correctly and fully seated. Inspect the patient circuit, reservoir bag, filters, water traps, sampling lines, absorbent components, and other removable items involved in the test.
Look for disconnected tubing, open ports, loose fittings, damaged seals, cracked components, or incorrectly installed accessories.
Expected outcome: All required breathing-system components are properly installed with no obvious leak or obstruction. If the test passes, troubleshooting can stop.
6. Check Sensors, Vaporizers, and Removable Accessories
Verify externally removable sensors and accessories required by the test are installed correctly and are compatible with the machine configuration. Confirm vaporizers are mounted securely and that no attachment appears partially engaged or mechanically mispositioned.
Reseat only components intended for normal external installation.
Expected outcome: All required external components are recognized and correctly positioned.
7. Repeat the System Test
Repeat the normal startup or system test after external issues have been corrected. Observe whether the machine completes each stage without recurring alarms or failures.
Do not bypass a failed test solely to return the machine to service.
Expected outcome: The system test completes successfully without recurrence. If so, perform final functional verification and troubleshooting can stop.
8. Perform Final Functional Verification
Confirm normal startup, ventilation operation using an appropriate test lung, gas delivery, displayed measurements, alarms, controls, and other functions affected by the original complaint.
Use approved test equipment when verification requires measurement.
Expected outcome: The machine operates normally and completes required return-to-service checks without the original failure.
9. Escalate an Unresolved Failure
If the same startup or system-test failure remains after external power, gases, breathing-system components, accessories, and connections have been verified, stop external troubleshooting.
Expected outcome: The machine remains out of clinical use pending qualified bench evaluation.
If the Problem Persists
Common external causes have been ruled out. The remaining condition may involve an internal pneumatic, sensing, power, communication, configuration, or other service-level problem.
Remove the machine from service, label it Out of Service, and send it for repair or bench evaluation. Further evaluation should use appropriate Drager service documentation and approved test equipment. Internal repair or configuration changes should be performed only by qualified personnel.
After corrective work, complete the applicable system test, functional verification, alarm checks, and any required electrical or performance testing before returning the machine to service.
Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting and escalate is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Have another verified anesthesia machine immediately available before troubleshooting any startup or system-test failure that could delay a case.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"OR staff reported the Atlan A300 would not complete its startup system test before a case."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found a required breathing-system connection partially seated, causing the system test to fail."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Reseated the connection, repeated the system test successfully, verified ventilation and alarms with a test lung, and returned the unit to service."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Exact displayed failure message
- Stage of startup or system test where failure occurred
- AC-power status and outlet tested
- Gas supplies connected
- Breathing-system configuration
- Accessories or sensors installed
- Vaporizers installed
- Known-good substitutions performed
- Results before and after correction
- Final system-test result
- Final device status
Final Thought
Protect the patient first, verify simple external causes before assuming internal failure, confirm the correction with a complete system test, escalate appropriately, and document the complaint, cause, and resolution clearly.
That is successful troubleshooting.