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What This Guide Helps With
Addresses leak or disconnection alarms caused by loose tubing, open ports, damaged circuits, humidification components, interfaces, or expiratory-system problems.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient
If a leak or disconnection alarm occurs during ventilation, clinical staff should immediately confirm the patient connection and effective ventilation.
If adequate ventilation is uncertain, use another verified ventilator or an appropriate alternate ventilation method before Clinical Engineering troubleshooting.
Expected outcome: Reliable ventilation is maintained while the Servo-air is removed from patient dependence.
2. Confirm the Alarm Condition
Connect the ventilator to an appropriate test lung using the reported circuit configuration and determine whether the alarm can be reproduced.
Expected outcome: The leak or disconnection condition is confirmed under controlled testing.
3. Inspect All Circuit Connections
Trace the circuit from the ventilator to the patient connection point. Check every connection for looseness or incomplete engagement.
Pay particular attention to adapters, elbows, humidifiers, filters, water traps, and extension tubing.
Expected outcome: All circuit connections are secure. If reseating a loose connection eliminates the alarm, troubleshooting can stop after final verification.
4. Check for Open Ports or Missing Caps
Inspect sampling ports, nebulizer ports, drainage points, accessory ports, and test connectors for openings that should be closed in the current setup.
Expected outcome: No unintended open pathway remains in the breathing circuit.
5. Inspect Tubing and Accessories for Damage
Look for cracks, splits, loose cuffs, punctures, distorted connectors, or damaged seals.
Flex suspect tubing gently while observing for an intermittent leak.
Expected outcome: The circuit and accessories remain intact. Damaged components are replaced.
6. Inspect Humidification Components
Verify the humidifier chamber and related connectors are properly installed and sealed. Check for incorrect seating or assembly that could create a significant leak.
Expected outcome: Humidification components are correctly installed without obvious leakage.
7. Verify the Expiratory Cassette
Confirm the expiratory cassette is fully seated and properly recognized.
Inspect the external interface for obvious contamination or damage.
Expected outcome: The expiratory cassette is correctly installed and does not contribute to the leak condition.
8. Substitute a Known-Good Circuit
Install a known-good compatible breathing circuit and test lung.
Expected outcome: If the alarm clears, the original circuit or accessory set contains the leak. Replace or isolate the defective external component.
9. Perform Leak and Functional Verification
Run the required pre-use or circuit verification process and operate the ventilator on an appropriate test load.
Confirm stable delivered and exhaled ventilation and normal alarm behavior.
Expected outcome: No unexpected leak or disconnection alarm occurs. Troubleshooting can stop after successful verification.
10. Escalate Persistent Leak Detection
If the alarm persists with a known-good sealed circuit and correctly seated cassette, stop external troubleshooting.
Expected outcome: The ventilator remains out of service for evaluation of sensing, valves, pneumatic pathways, calibration, or other internal causes.
If the Problem Persists
Common external leaks, open ports, accessories, tubing defects, humidification components, and cassette issues have been ruled out.
Remove the ventilator from service, label it Out of Service, and send it for bench evaluation. Use appropriate Getinge documentation and approved ventilator test equipment. Internal pneumatic, sensing, or calibration work should be performed only by qualified personnel.
Complete leak, ventilation, alarm, and pre-use testing before return to service.
Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
A leak or disconnect alarm should never be repeatedly silenced without verifying the patient connection and actual ventilation.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Respiratory Therapy reported a persistent patient circuit leak alarm on the Servo-air."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found a loose humidifier-chamber connection creating a significant circuit leak."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering reseated the humidifier connection, completed the circuit and pre-use checks, verified normal ventilation and alarm operation, and returned the ventilator to service."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Exact alarm condition
- Circuit configuration
- Loose connections found
- Open ports or missing caps
- Tubing damage
- Humidifier setup
- Expiratory cassette condition
- Known-good circuit result
- Final leak check result
- Final device status
Final Thought
Secure ventilation first, inspect the complete external circuit systematically, verify the correction with a controlled leak and functional test, and escalate persistent unexplained leaks.
That is successful troubleshooting.