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What This Guide Helps With
Addresses leak or disconnect alarms caused by loose connections, damaged tubing, open ports, humidification components, accessories, or expiratory-system problems.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient
If a leak or disconnect alarm occurs during patient ventilation, immediately verify the patient connection and actual ventilation. Provide another verified ventilator or alternate ventilation method if adequate support is uncertain. Expected outcome: Patient ventilation is reliable before Clinical Engineering troubleshooting begins.
2. Confirm the Alarm
Connect the Servo-air Lite to an appropriate test lung using the reported circuit configuration and reproduce the condition if possible. Expected outcome: The leak or disconnection alarm is confirmed under controlled conditions.
3. Trace All Circuit Connections
Inspect every connection from the ventilator outlet through the patient circuit, humidifier, filters, adapters, and test lung. Reseat loose connections. Expected outcome: Connections are secure. If the alarm clears, complete final verification and stop troubleshooting when successful.
4. Check for Open Ports
Inspect sampling ports, nebulizer ports, drain ports, accessory connections, and unused openings for missing caps or unintended openings. Expected outcome: No unintended open gas pathway remains.
5. Inspect Tubing and Connectors
Look for cracks, punctures, loose cuffs, damaged connectors, or intermittent separation. Expected outcome: Tubing and connectors are intact. Damaged components are replaced.
6. Inspect Humidification Components
Verify the chamber and associated connections are properly assembled and sealed. Expected outcome: Humidification components do not create an unintended leak.
7. Verify the Expiratory Cassette
Confirm that the cassette is correctly seated and recognized. Expected outcome: The expiratory interface is properly installed and does not contribute to the leak condition.
8. Substitute a Known-Good Circuit
Install a known-good compatible circuit and test lung. Expected outcome: If the alarm disappears, the original circuit or external accessory is the source.
9. Perform Final Leak and Functional Testing
Run the required circuit or pre-use checks and verify stable ventilation and proper disconnection alarm operation. Expected outcome: No unexpected leak alarm remains. Troubleshooting can stop.
10. Escalate Persistent Leak Alarms
If the alarm persists with a sealed known-good circuit and properly installed cassette, stop external troubleshooting. Expected outcome: The ventilator remains out of service for qualified service evaluation.
If the Problem Persists
External connections, tubing, accessories, humidification components, and cassette installation have been ruled out. The remaining problem may involve internal pneumatic pathways, valves, flow or pressure sensing, calibration, or electronics. Remove the ventilator from service, label it Out of Service, and send it for bench evaluation using appropriate Getinge documentation and approved ventilator test equipment. Verify leak detection, ventilation, alarms, and the full pre-use check after repair. Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
A circuit-disconnection alarm must prompt immediate confirmation of the actual patient connection before any attempt is made to silence or troubleshoot the alarm.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Respiratory Therapy reported a continuous circuit leak alarm on the Servo-air Lite."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found an unused accessory port on the patient circuit left open."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering correctly closed the port, completed the circuit and pre-use checks, verified ventilation and disconnect alarm operation, and returned the ventilator to service."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Alarm displayed
- Patient or bench occurrence
- Loose circuit connection
- Open ports
- Tubing condition
- Humidifier setup
- Cassette condition
- Known-good circuit result
- Leak-test result
- Final device status
Final Thought
Protect patient ventilation first, trace the complete circuit systematically, verify repairs with controlled testing, and escalate unexplained leak detection after external causes are eliminated. That is successful troubleshooting.