Problem:

“I think my anesthesia machine is leaking. I hear a hissing sound and I’m not sure where it’s coming from.”

Troubleshoot:

• Perform a Leak Test. You can use Windex as you perform the test to look for bubbles that may emerge from sealed areas on the machine. (Note: NEVER SPRAY PETROLEUM PRODUCTS ON YOUR OXYGEN SYSTEM!)

Solution:

Possible Leak Sources:

• Crack in CO2 absorbing canister (rare) – Contact LEI Medical Service Department for free replacement.

• Crack in black tubing (rare) – Contact LEI Medical Service Department for further assistance.

• Silicone Gasket is torn (rare) - Contact LEI Medical Service Department to order new gasket.

• Dome o-rings cracked or seated incorrectly – Unscrew dome counterclockwise and slip o-ring off dome. Inspect for cracks. If there are cracks contact LEI Medical Service Department to order new o-rings. If no cracks are visualized, place o-ring on top of dome and slide down evenly until it “snaps” into place. Screw dome back into place clockwise until tight. Perform leak test again. If problem persists, contact LEI Medical Service Department.

• Inlet and Outlet Vaporizer Adaptors not seated correctly – Reseat adaptors securely onto vaporizer.

• Base of Pop-off Valve – Remove pop-off valve, use Teflon tape on threads, and reinstall.

• Rebreathing Liter Bag (common) –If the bag is cracked, has holes, or in any way lacks integrity, remove and replace with a new Rebreathing Bag.

• Rebreathing Hoses – If upon visual inspection holes or cracks are seen, the Rebreathing Hose should be replaced.

“I am unable to keep a patient down. I set the vaporizer setting to 5% and my patient still begins to wake up.”

Troubleshoot:

• Perform a Leak Test and ensure there are no major leaks in your anesthesia system.

• Check your evacuation system. If there is an imbalance between the positive and negative pressures in your anesthesia system, the anesthetic agent may be effectively removed from your system due to the vacuum effect of the evacuation device.

• There may be a problem with your vaporizer. It may not be outputting the percentage indicated. When vaporizers fail, they usually fail on the low side and rarely on the high side. But before sending the vaporizer in for service, please check the following parameters:

o Ensure that vaporizer is full of anesthetic.
o Ensure that manifold inlet and outlet adapters are pressed snugly onto vaporizer manifold.
o Ensure that vaporizer drain is tightened down.
o Ensure that vaporizer fill cap is tightened down.

Solution:

•If you notice bubbling indicating a leak, check for possible leak sources as stated above.

• If you find the evacuation system is a problem, you may then need a Waste Gas Interface Device to balance the pressures, ensuring the anesthetic agent is delivered to the patient and not sucked out by the evacuation system.

• If you find that the vaporizer is not leaking but you feel confident that the vaporizer is not functioning correctly, then you may either contact LEI Medical Service Department or contact a LEI Medical Authorized Service Technician or send the vaporizer into a LEI Medical Authorized Vaporizer Service Dealer for cleaning and calibration.

“I think there is a leak somewhere between my oxygen tank and the flowmeter on the anesthesia system (high pressure side of the anesthesia system).”

Troubleshoot:

• If you can hear a hissing sound, spray Windex on fittings where you hear the sound. If you have a leak, it will bubble.

• Make sure flowmeter is off on the anesthesia machine. Turn oxygen tank on to watch pressure regulator rise. Turn off oxygen tank. The pressure regulator should hold steady. If the pressure begins to fall, you have a leak.

Solution:

Possible leaks may be due to the following:

• Oxygen hose nut is not fully tightened and may need to be tightened more with a crescent wrench.

• Oxygen flowmeter flow control assembly may be stuck in an open position. This is evident when the ball floats and will not fall to zero. Under normal circumstances, this requires replacement of the flow control assembly. Please contact LEI Medical Service Department for further assistance.

“The oxygen doesn’t seem to be flowing, or I cannot turn my oxygen off on my anesthesia machine.”

Troubleshoot:

• Check to make sure the oxygen tank has been turned on.

• Push on the oxygen flush to ensure oxygen is flowing into the machine.

• Turn mechanical stop flow control and check if ball moves up and down the flowmeter.

• Check to see if ball hovers above zero in the flowmeter.

Solution:

If both the oxygen flush and oxygen flowmeter are not working and the oxygen tank has been turned on and does have oxygen in it, the Regulator or the oxygen tank may need to be replaced.

If the ball hovers above zero and does not come to rest at the bottom of the flow tube, it will be necessary to replace the mechanical stop flow control assembly. Contact LEI Medical Service Department for further assistance.

“My oxygen system is not working correctly.”

Troubleshoot:

Determine where the problem lies:

• Failure of the oxygen quick disconnects

• Failure of the oxygen check valves in dual gas supply

• Failure of black tubing

• Failure of oxygen flush

• Oxygen leak from regulator

• Improper or insufficient oxygen flush

• Improper or insufficient metabolic oxygen delivered to patient

Solution:

The oxygen regulator is a medical grade, preset, non-adjustable regulator designed to reduce oxygen tank pressure from approximately 2100 psi (when full) to approximately 50 psi. The oxygen regulator can fail either in producing too high pressure or producing too low pressure.

If any of the above occurs, we recommend replacing the Oxygen Regulator.

“The needle on my monometer gauge is not at zero.”

Solution:

The re-zero screw is located at the 12:00 position (top, dead-center) under the crystal manometer cover. Remove cover by turning counterclockwise. Adjust screw mechanism with small screwdriver until needle is zeroed. Replace manometer cover.

If manometer will not re-zero, or if needle will not indicate proper pressure, manometer should be replaced. Contact LEI Medical Service Department for further assistance.