Pump Troubleshooting Flashcards
Problem: Pump Failure
Symptoms: No lights on equipment
Causes: Power cords disloded to cart or pump Power failure Battery malfunction/not charged Individual pieces of equipment not turned on.
Solutions:
Hand crank until power is available
Plug in properly
Use portable power supply
Problem: Pump Failure
Symptoms: Pump without power
Causes:
Pump power switch off
ECMO cart power switch off
Pump not plugged in
Solutions: Hand crank until power is available if circuit pressures are normal without alarms Turn switch on Check for defective alarms Plug in properly
Problem: Pump Failure
Symptoms: Pump shuts off or is not turning
Causes: System pressures alarming Pump on/off knob turned off Flow knob turned to zero Bubble detector alarming and set to control pump Error code flashing due to roller heads having been manually turned/hand cranked Cover lid open Pump malfunction
Solutions:
Correct reasons for pressure alarms
Check for air
Check flow knob for appropriate settings
Turn pump power switch off and back on to reset
Check lid cover
Hand crank only if circuit pressures are normal and without alarms. (DO NOT hand crank if pump stopped for high MO, or low bladder pressures alarms)
Turn pump power button off and back on to reset.
Problem: Pump Failure
Symptoms: Overheated pump
Causes:
Wet connections
Solutions:
Check connections
Problem: Pump failure
Symptoms: Pump rotating but no flow
Causes:
Inadequate occlusion pressure
Pump malfunction
Solutions:
Adust occlusion pressure
Replace pump as indicated
Problem: Low flow/Cutting out
Symptoms: Negative pressure (bladder or venous line pressure) alarm.
Causes:
Venous/cephalic catheter malpositioned
Cannula kinked
Cannula too small
Kink in tubing between patient and the pump
Pressure alarm limit or thresholds set too low
Flow Knob bumped too high
Pressure transducer malfunction
Clot in venous line, cannula, connectors, ect.
Intravenous volume depletion
Inadequate venous return due to patient condition
Bed/warmer height too low
Solutions:
Reposition catherter, head or neck
Check cannula position and manipulate as needed
Consider replacing or adding second catheter
Remove tubing kinks
Adust pressure alarm and threshold settings
Check flow scaleand lower blood flow
Flush, zero, and replace transducers as needed
Check for clots
Consider fluid bolus
Evaluate for and treat patient condition causing inadequate venous return
Raise the height of the bed/warmer
Problem: Low flow/Cutting out
Symptoms: Positive pressure (MO) alarm
Causes:
Kink in tubing between pump and the patient
Kink or malposition of arterial cannula
MO clotted
Arterial line filter clotted
Pressure alarm limit or threshold set incorrectly
Pressure transducer malfunction
Solutions: Remove tubing kinks Check cannula position Replace MO if indicated Check for clots Adust pressure limits and thresholds Flush, zero, and replace transducers as needed Verify integrity of pressure transducer lines and/or stopcocks and replace as needed Replace arterial line filter
Problem: Raceway Rupture
Symptoms: Blood in roller pump
Causes:
Raceway tubing develops leak from wear and tear
Solutions:
Replace or repair raceway segment:
Problem: Air in Circuit
Symptoms: Air in circuit pre-MO
Causes:
Cracked or open stopcocks, pigtails, or connectors in venous line.
Air from IV infusions or volume pushes into circuit
Venous cannula connector loose or cracked
Venous cannula dislodged - side hole out of vessel
Air in right atrium - patient source (e.g. central line infusion)
Solutions:
Walk air to removal location - aspirate air from bladder, top of oxygenator, or bubble trap
Remove air - air blood interfaces will promote clot formation and risk air embolus to the patient
Check for leaks and secure connections
Replace pigtail and connector components
Correct cannula problems
Problem: Air in Circuit
Symptoms: Air in circuit post-MO
Causes:
Air from IV, medications or platelet infusions into circuit
Air leak from venous line passing through MO
Air leak from MO or gas outlet obstruction
Solutions:
Clamp off ECMO if risk of air reach patient
Remove air - air blood interfaces will promote clot formation and risk air embolus to the patient
Stop air leak
Check air detector function, if present
Replace MO
