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What This Guide Helps With
Addresses absent or unstable vacuum caused by leaks, loose tubing, blocked filters or disposables, connection errors, external setup, or vacuum-system faults.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient and Maintain Continuity of Care
If adequate surgical suction or blood recovery cannot be maintained, notify the clinical team and establish alternate suction before troubleshooting.
Expected outcome: Necessary suction remains available without depending on the affected Cell Saver Elite+.
2. Confirm the Vacuum Symptom
Determine whether vacuum is completely absent, weak, intermittent, slow to develop, or drops under load.
Identify whether the problem affects the complete aspiration system or only one attached circuit.
Expected outcome: The vacuum problem is clearly characterized and localized as far as possible.
3. Verify System Power and Operating State
Confirm stable AC power and normal system startup. Ensure no unrelated condition is preventing the system from enabling vacuum operation.
Expected outcome: The system has stable power and is otherwise operating normally.
4. Inspect Vacuum and Aspiration Connections
Check all accessible tubing and fittings associated with the vacuum path for loose connections, disconnected tubing, cracked fittings, or improperly seated ports.
Expected outcome: All external vacuum connections are secure. If correcting a loose connection restores vacuum, troubleshooting can stop after verification.
5. Inspect Tubing for Leaks or Collapse
Trace the line for cracks, punctures, kinks, compression, and collapsed sections. Pay particular attention to points where tubing bends around equipment or connects to disposable components.
Expected outcome: The tubing is intact and mechanically open.
6. Inspect Disposable Components for Restriction
Check relevant externally accessible filters, reservoirs, connectors, and disposable pathways for visible obstruction, fluid saturation, clotting, or damage.
Replace compromised disposables rather than attempting to clean or reuse them.
Expected outcome: The disposable vacuum path is free of obvious restriction.
7. Verify Reservoir and Port Sealing
Inspect reservoir connections and unused ports for proper closure or sealing according to the intended setup.
An open or poorly sealed port can reduce available vacuum.
Expected outcome: The reservoir system is sealed appropriately. If correcting a port or connection stabilizes vacuum, the issue is resolved.
8. Compare With a Known-Good Tubing or Disposable Setup
If practical, connect a known-good compatible vacuum or aspiration setup to determine whether the vacuum problem follows the original disposable circuit.
Expected outcome: Normal vacuum with a known-good setup indicates the original disposable path was the likely external cause.
9. Perform a Nonpatient Vacuum Verification
Using an appropriate test configuration, confirm that vacuum develops and remains stable under a reasonable functional load.
Do not rely solely on sound or subjective feel.
Expected outcome: Vacuum is consistently available and stable. Troubleshooting can stop if repeated verification is successful.
10. Remove From Service if Vacuum Remains Unreliable
If all accessible tubing, ports, seals, disposable components, and power conditions are verified but vacuum remains low or unstable, remove the system from service.
Expected outcome: The unit is labeled Out of Service and referred for qualified evaluation.
If the Problem Persists
External leaks, restrictions, disposable components, tubing, reservoir sealing, and power conditions have been ruled out. The remaining cause may involve the internal vacuum source, regulation, sensing, control, or another service-level fault.
The device should be:
- Removed from service
- Labeled Out of Service
- Sent for repair or bench evaluation
- Evaluated using appropriate manufacturer documentation and approved test equipment
- Repaired or configured only by qualified personnel
Verify vacuum performance and overall operation before return to service. Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Ensure a separate surgical suction method remains available whenever cell-salvage vacuum performance is uncertain.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"OR staff reported that vacuum was weak and fluctuated during setup."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found an aspiration tubing connection partially disengaged from the reservoir port."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"The connection was reseated securely, and nonpatient testing confirmed stable vacuum throughout repeated operation."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Vacuum behavior reported
- Power state
- Tubing condition
- Loose or open ports
- Reservoir sealing
- Disposable restriction
- Known-good tubing comparison
- Vacuum behavior under test
- Result before and after correction
- Final device status
- Vacuum behavior reported
- Power state
- Tubing condition
- Loose or open ports
- Reservoir sealing
- Disposable restriction
- Known-good tubing comparison
- Vacuum behavior under test
- Result before and after correction
- Final device status
Final Thought
Low vacuum is commonly caused by leaks or restrictions in the external circuit, so verify the complete aspiration path before assuming an internal vacuum failure. Escalate whenever stable performance cannot be demonstrated.
That is successful troubleshooting.