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What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshooting PA_ERROR_PULSE_WIDTH, where pacing pulse duration is too long and may affect safe pacer therapy delivery.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Ensure Patient Safety First
- If the LIFEPAK 15 is connected to a patient or being prepared for patient use, remove it from service immediately and provide staff with another verified defibrillator.
- Do not attempt to clear or ignore a therapy-related pacing fault during patient care.
- Expected: Patient care continues with a known-good defibrillator.
Verify the Reported Error and Behavior
- Confirm the exact displayed or logged error is PA_ERROR_PULSE_WIDTH.
- Confirm the therapy service code is a20e.
- Confirm service information indicates pacing pulse too long.
- Check whether the error appears during startup, operational checks, pacing setup, or after attempting pacing output.
- Expected: The error is confirmed in the service log or reproduced during device evaluation.
- Why it matters: This confirms a true therapy subsystem fault rather than a user setup issue.
Remove the Device From Clinical Use
- Because this error involves pacer output pulse width, do not return the unit to service based only on a power cycle or visual inspection.
- Label the defibrillator Out of Service and document the reported therapy service code.
- Expected: The device is clearly unavailable for clinical use until corrective action is completed.
Check External Power and Basic Device Condition
- Connect the LIFEPAK 15 to a known-good AC power source or verified charged battery.
- Inspect the battery, battery contacts, power adapter, and exterior housing for damage, contamination, or signs of impact.
- Expected: Power source and external condition are acceptable.
- Why it matters: Unstable power or obvious physical damage can contribute to abnormal therapy operation or failed self-tests.
Inspect Therapy Cable and Pacing Accessories
- Check the therapy cable, therapy connector, pacing electrodes, and accessory packaging for damage, contamination, expired electrodes, bent pins, or poor seating.
- Use known-good compatible accessories if available for bench evaluation.
- Expected: Accessories are intact, compatible, and properly connected.
- Why it matters: External therapy accessories should be ruled out before assuming the defibrillator itself has failed.
Review the Service Log
- Process or review the device service log according to department procedure.
- Look for repeated therapy service codes, timing of the event, recurrence after restart, or related therapy/pacing faults.
- Expected: The service log supports whether this is an isolated event or persistent therapy subsystem failure.
Attempt a Controlled Bench Recheck Only
- Perform only approved operational checks within Clinical Engineering scope.
- Do not test pacing output on a patient.
- Use the appropriate analyzer and facility-approved test setup if a pacer output check is performed.
- Expected: The unit either passes approved checks without recurrence or the pacing-related fault persists.
Verify Pacer Characteristics Before Return to Use
- If corrective action is completed and the error no longer appears, verify pacer characteristics before returning the LIFEPAK 15 to service.
- This should include appropriate pacing output verification using an approved defibrillator/pacer analyzer.
- Expected: Pacer output is within expected performance limits, no PA_ERROR_PULSE_WIDTH returns, and the unit passes required operational checks.
Stop When Resolved
- If the error was not reproducible after documented corrective action, the service log is reviewed, pacing characteristics are verified, and all required checks pass, return the device to service.
- Document the final status clearly in the work order.
If the Problem Persists
If PA_ERROR_PULSE_WIDTH or therapy service code a20e persists after external power, accessories, physical condition, and basic operational checks are ruled out, the fault should be treated as an internal therapy/pacing subsystem failure.
Remove the LIFEPAK 15 from service, label it Out of Service, and send it for repair or bench evaluation. Do not return the unit to clinical use until corrective action is completed and pacer characteristics are verified.
Knowing when to stop is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Never troubleshoot on an active patient. If pacing therapy is needed, move the patient to a backup device first and have staff immediately use another verified defibrillator/pacer. A pacing pulse width fault can affect therapy delivery, so maintain therapy continuity and treat this as a patient safety issue.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Staff reported LIFEPAK 15 displaying PA_ERROR_PULSE_WIDTH with therapy service code a20e. Service information indicates pacing pulse too long."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"External power source, therapy cable, pacing electrodes, and device condition checked. Persistent therapy service code indicates likely internal pacing/therapy subsystem fault requiring repair evaluation."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Removed defibrillator from service and labeled Out of Service. Processed service log and routed unit for corrective repair. Pacer characteristics to be verified with approved analyzer before return to use."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Alarm behavior, including whether PA_ERROR_PULSE_WIDTH occurred at startup, during check, or during pacing setup
- Accessories swapped, including therapy cable, pacing electrodes, and known-good compatible accessories
- Power behavior, including battery or AC power used during the event
- Environmental factors, including signs of impact, contamination, storage conditions, or accessory damage
- Indicator lights, service LED behavior, service log findings, and any related therapy service codes
- Final device status, including Out of Service status, repair routing, and pacer analyzer results if performed
Final Thought
A pacing pulse width error on a defibrillator is not a minor nuisance alarm. Clinical Engineering should confirm the code, rule out external causes, protect patient safety, and escalate appropriately when the therapy subsystem remains suspect. Clear CCR documentation supports both safe service decisions and future repair history.
That is successful troubleshooting.