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What This Guide Helps With
Addresses inadequate airflow or turbine/blower-related symptoms caused by circuit restrictions, filters, setup, power, environmental conditions, or service-level faults.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient Immediately
If delivered flow or ventilation is unreliable, move the patient to another verified ventilator or provide an appropriate alternate ventilation method before troubleshooting.
Do not continue using a ventilator that cannot reliably meet commanded ventilation.
Expected outcome: Patient ventilation is maintained independently of the affected Servo-air.
2. Confirm the Reported Condition
Operate the ventilator with an appropriate test load and determine whether the problem is low delivered flow, delayed pressure development, abnormal turbine sound, startup failure, or a displayed turbine/blower-related condition.
Expected outcome: The symptom is reproduced under controlled conditions. If ventilation is normal and the symptom cannot be reproduced, continue with inspection and functional verification before return to service.
3. Verify AC Power and Battery Condition
Connect the ventilator to a known-good AC outlet and confirm stable operation. Inspect the power cord and inlet externally.
A low or unstable power condition can complicate blower performance assessment.
Expected outcome: The ventilator has a stable power source. If performance normalizes on reliable AC power, evaluate the power/battery issue separately before return to service.
4. Inspect the Patient Circuit for Restriction
Inspect the entire circuit for:
- Kinked tubing
- Occluded connectors
- Water accumulation
- Incorrectly installed components
- Blocked filters
- Obstructed humidification components
- Pinched hoses
Correct any obvious restriction.
Expected outcome: The circuit has a clear, unrestricted gas path. If adequate flow returns after correcting the restriction, troubleshooting can stop after full performance verification.
5. Check External Filters and Air Path
Inspect externally accessible air-intake areas and approved replaceable filters for visible blockage, contamination, or improper installation.
Do not open the ventilator or access internal turbine components.
Expected outcome: External air paths are unobstructed and filters are correctly installed and serviceable.
6. Simplify the Breathing System
Temporarily use the simplest approved test circuit and remove unnecessary accessories that may introduce resistance.
Use an appropriate test lung or simulator.
Expected outcome: Flow and pressure delivery are normal with the simplified setup. Reintroduce external components one at a time if needed to identify the restriction.
7. Substitute Known-Good External Components
Replace suspect filters, tubing, circuit components, or test accessories with known-good compatible items.
Expected outcome: Normal ventilation is restored with a known-good external component. Replace the defective accessory and complete final testing.
8. Check Environmental Conditions
Verify that vents are not blocked by bedding, packaging, wall placement, or equipment stacked against the ventilator.
Confirm the ventilator has adequate clearance and is not exposed to obvious excessive heat, dust, or contamination.
Expected outcome: The ventilator has an unobstructed external cooling and intake environment.
9. Perform Functional Verification
With a verified circuit and test load, confirm stable startup, delivered ventilation, expected pressure and flow response, and normal alarm operation.
Use approved test equipment when quantitative performance verification is required.
Expected outcome: Ventilation is stable and consistent with configured settings. If verified, troubleshooting can stop.
10. Escalate Persistent Turbine or Flow Problems
If insufficient flow, abnormal turbine operation, unusual noise, overheating, or repeatable turbine-related faults remain after external causes are eliminated, stop troubleshooting.
Expected outcome: The unit remains out of service for qualified service evaluation.
If the Problem Persists
Common external restrictions, accessories, power conditions, and environmental causes have been ruled out. The remaining issue may involve the turbine/blower assembly, pneumatic control, flow sensing, internal power delivery, electronics, or calibration.
Remove the ventilator from service, label it Out of Service, and send it for bench evaluation. Use appropriate Getinge service documentation and approved ventilator test equipment. Internal repair, calibration, or component replacement should be performed only by qualified personnel.
Perform complete performance, alarm, and pre-use verification before return to service.
Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Any ventilator showing inconsistent flow delivery or abnormal blower behavior should be exchanged before troubleshooting begins.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Respiratory Therapy reported that the Servo-air was producing insufficient flow during setup."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found a severely restricted external breathing-circuit filter."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering replaced the restricted filter, verified normal flow and ventilation with a test load, completed the pre-use check, and returned the ventilator to service."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Reported flow or ventilation symptom
- Any displayed fault message
- AC versus battery operation
- Circuit and filter condition
- Obstructions found
- Abnormal sound or heat
- Known-good substitutions
- Test-lung performance
- Final pre-use and functional test results
Final Thought
Maintain ventilation first, eliminate circuit and environmental restrictions before suspecting the turbine, verify performance with appropriate testing, and remove the device from service when reliable ventilation cannot be established.
That is successful troubleshooting.