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What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshoots abnormal pressure-related indications or clinical observations caused by interfaces, tubing, obstruction, setup, flow settings, or measurement conditions.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient and Maintain Therapy
If excessive, insufficient, or questionable pressure is suspected during therapy, place the patient on appropriate verified respiratory support before technical troubleshooting.
Expected outcome: Patient support does not depend on equipment with questionable performance.
2. Clarify What Is Being Reported as Pressure
Determine whether the complaint comes from an Airvo 3 alarm or indication, an external measurement, another clinical monitor, or staff observation. Record the complete message and current setup.
High-flow systems should not be evaluated as though they are conventional pressure-controlled ventilators.
Expected outcome: The source of the pressure concern is clearly identified.
3. Inspect the Patient Interface
Verify that the approved interface is correctly fitted and is not blocked, occluded, damaged, folded, or otherwise improperly positioned.
Expected outcome: The patient interface presents no obvious abnormal restriction or connection problem.
4. Inspect the Breathing Tube
Check for kinks, compression, obstruction, accumulated condensate, damaged tubing, or incorrect routing.
Expected outcome: The tubing path is open and correctly routed. If correcting an obstruction resolves the abnormal condition, proceed to final verification.
5. Inspect the Chamber and Accessible Gas Path
Verify proper humidifier chamber installation and that accessible gas-path connections are secure and unobstructed.
Expected outcome: No external restriction or leak is found in the gas path.
6. Verify Flow and Configuration
Confirm that the device's displayed settings correspond with the intended clinical configuration. An unexpectedly high or low flow setting can affect pressure within an open high-flow interface.
Do not modify prescribed settings on a patient solely for troubleshooting.
Expected outcome: Configuration is appropriate and does not explain the reported pressure condition.
7. Verify External Measurement Setup
If pressure was measured using separate test equipment, inspect the test setup, adapters, tubing, zeroing, and connections. Use appropriate approved equipment and applicable procedures.
Expected outcome: The reported pressure condition is not caused by an incorrect external measurement setup.
8. Compare With Known-Good Accessories
If an interface, breathing tube, chamber, or adapter remains suspect, replace it with a known-good approved compatible component and repeat the controlled test.
Expected outcome: The abnormal result disappears if an external accessory was responsible.
9. Perform Controlled Functional Verification
Verify airflow, alarms, controls, humidification, and any applicable pressure-related performance using manufacturer-defined service procedures. Do not create pressure specifications or tolerances that are not documented.
Expected outcome: The system operates within applicable criteria. If so, troubleshooting can stop.
10. Escalate Persistent Abnormal Pressure Behavior
If external restrictions, interfaces, settings, and measurement methods are verified but the abnormal pressure condition remains, stop troubleshooting at the external level.
Expected outcome: The unit is removed from service for qualified technical evaluation.
If the Problem Persists
External circuit restrictions, incorrect interfaces, settings, connections, and measurement errors have been ruled out. Persistent abnormal pressure behavior may indicate a problem with flow control, sensing, the internal gas path, software, or another service-level function.
Remove the Airvo 3 from service, label it Out of Service, and send it for repair or bench evaluation. Use appropriate Fisher & Paykel Healthcare documentation and approved test equipment. Do not perform undocumented internal adjustments.
Following repair, verify all applicable flow, alarm, humidification, and system performance before returning the device to clinical use.
Clinical Use Tip
Evaluate the entire Airvo 3 interface and flow path when a pressure concern is reported; interface restriction can change system behavior without indicating an internal failure.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Clinical staff reported unusually high pressure behavior while setting up the Airvo 3."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found the patient-interface tubing was partially occluded by incorrect positioning."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering corrected the tubing position, verified unobstructed flow and normal operation, and completed functional testing before return to service."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Exact reported pressure concern
- Source of pressure information
- Device message or alarm
- Flow setting observed
- Interface type and condition
- Tubing restrictions or condensate
- Chamber condition
- External test setup used
- Known-good substitutions
- Final functional status
Final Thought
Pressure concerns require careful distinction between actual equipment performance, circuit restriction, interface behavior, and measurement error. Verify external causes first, stop when internal evaluation becomes necessary, and document the confirmed findings and final test results.
That is successful troubleshooting.