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What This Guide Helps With
This guide helps troubleshoot the Reservoir volume empty alarm on an ICU Medical CADD-Solis infusion pump. The manual lists this as a high-priority alarm. It indicates the programmed reservoir volume has reached empty or the pump believes there is no remaining volume available for infusion.
This alarm can interrupt medication delivery and may require immediate clinical review, especially if the medication is time-sensitive, continuous, or critical to patient care.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Ensure Patient Safety First
- Notify clinical staff that the pump is alarming for an empty reservoir volume.
- Do not silence or restart the pump without confirming the medication order, reservoir status, and patient need.
- If therapy must continue without interruption, have clinical staff provide a backup pump, replacement reservoir, or alternate medication delivery method according to facility procedure.
- Confirm the patient is stable and that delayed infusion will not create a clinical risk.
Verify the Alarm Message
- Confirm the displayed alarm is exactly: Reservoir volume empty.
- Check whether the alarm occurred during active infusion, at startup, after programming, after a cassette change, or after reservoir volume was adjusted.
- Ask staff whether the reservoir was recently replaced, refilled, primed, or reprogrammed.
Check the Actual Reservoir or Medication Container
- Visually inspect the reservoir, cassette, or medication container for remaining medication.
- Confirm whether the reservoir is truly empty or if medication remains but the programmed reservoir volume has reached zero.
- Look for obvious leaks, disconnected tubing, clamp issues, or unexpected fluid loss.
- Do not estimate or change medication volume unless allowed by facility policy and clinical staff direction.
Verify the Programmed Reservoir Volume
- Have authorized clinical staff confirm the programmed reservoir volume against the medication order and actual medication remaining.
- Check whether the reservoir volume was entered incorrectly, not reset after a new reservoir was installed, or left at a previous low value.
- Confirm the intended therapy, dose, rate, concentration, and volume before restarting infusion.
Replace or Refill the Reservoir
- If the reservoir is empty, replace or refill it according to facility procedure, medication policy, and prescription requirements.
- Use only approved reservoirs, cassettes, tubing, and medication preparations for the CADD-Solis pump.
- Prime the line only as clinically appropriate and never while connected to the patient unless facility procedure allows it.
- Confirm the cassette or reservoir is properly seated and latched before restarting.
Restart and Monitor the Infusion
- After the reservoir issue is corrected, confirm the pump programming before restarting therapy.
- Verify that the alarm clears and the pump resumes operation normally.
- Monitor briefly for repeat alarms, unexpected volume changes, occlusion alarms, leaks, or abnormal pump behavior.
If the Problem Persists
If the reservoir has medication remaining, the programmed reservoir volume has been verified, the reservoir or cassette has been replaced or refilled correctly, and the alarm still returns, external causes have been ruled out.
Remove the device from service, label it Out of Service, and send it for repair or bench evaluation. Do not return the pump to patient use until the reservoir volume function, programming behavior, alarm response, and infusion operation have been verified.
Clinical Use Tip
Never troubleshoot an infusion pump on an active patient when medication delivery could be interrupted or changed unexpectedly. Move the patient to a backup pump or approved alternate delivery method first, then troubleshoot the pump when it is safe to do so.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"ICU Medical CADD-Solis infusion pump displaying high-priority alarm: Reservoir volume empty."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Reservoir volume reached empty. Actual medication volume and programmed reservoir volume were reviewed with clinical staff. No pump damage, leak, or external setup issue found."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Reservoir replaced or refilled per facility procedure. Pump programming confirmed before restart. Alarm cleared and pump operated normally during functional check."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Alarm behavior
- Accessories swapped
- Power behavior
- Environmental factors
- Indicator lights
- Final device status
Final Thought
A Reservoir volume empty alarm should be handled as a clinical delivery issue first and an equipment issue second. Confirm patient safety, verify the actual reservoir status, confirm the programmed volume, and only return the pump to service after the alarm clears and operation is verified.
That is successful troubleshooting.