HeartWare Ventricular Assist System Instructions For Use Manual page 37

APPENDIX A: QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE FOR ALARMS - cont'd
Alarm
Alarm Tone
Symbol
Flashing
Yellow
• Intermittent beep
– gradual increase in
alarm volume over
time if not muted
• Able to mute alarm
for 5 minutes or
1 hour
• Electrical Fault (audio)
and Controller Fault
(audio) can be
permanently disabled
• Press the scroll
button on the
controller to clear
resolved medium
alarm messages
Flashing
Yellow
LCD Display LCD Display
Line 1 Line 2
Alarm Type: Medium
Controller Call • Controller component malfunction
Fault but pump still working
Controller Call: • Controller component malfunction
Fault ALARMS
• Suction Detection disabled
OFF
• Low Flow alarm disabled
• VAD Connect alarm may
be disabled
• High Power alarm may
be disabled
High Watts Call • HVAD
exceeded High Power alarm
threshold
• Alarm threshold set too close to
average power
• Thrombus or other materials (e.g.,
tissue fragments) in the device
• High RPM
• High flow
• VAD electrical fault
Electric Call
• Fault in continuity of pump-to-
Fault
controller electrical connections
• Partial driveline fracture
• Connector malfunction
• Controller component failure
• VAD malfunction
Low Flow Call • Average flow below Low Flow
alarm threshold
• Alarm threshold set too close to
average flow
• Suction
• RPM too high or too low
• Poor VAD filling (right ventricular
failure, hypovolemia, tamponade,
arrhythmias, inflow cannula
obstruction, etc.
• High blood pressure
• Outflow graft kink
Suction Call
• RPM too high
• Poor VAD filling (right ventricular
failure, hypovolemia, tamponade,
arrhythmias, inflow cannula
obstruction, etc.)
• Thrombus or other materials (e.g.,
tissue fragments) in the device
Ventricular Assist System
Potential Causes
Pump Watts have
®
Potential Actions
• Confirm frequency and duration of alarm,
concurrent alarms, and pump flow/speed/
power
• Assess patient for complaints of shortness of
breath, chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, etc.
• Isolated alarm should be monitored with
download at next visit
• Multiple alarms within 24 hours without other
issues should be assessed at non-emergent
visit
• Multiple alarms within 1 hour with other
alarms or symptoms, replace controller and
assess in emergent visit
• Download/email patient log files from original
(alarming) controller and new controller
• Contact HeartWare Clinical Support
• Confirm correct settings for High Power alarm
and pump speed
• Consider checking blood coagulation labs
• Assess patient for hemolysis
• Download/email patient logs files
• Check for aortic insufficiency, thrombus, etc.
• Contact HeartWare Clinical Support
• Check driveline cover and ensure driveline
connector is engaged
• Inspect driveline for defects
• Download/email patient log files
• Contact HeartWare Clinical Support
• Confirm VAD parameters
• If possible, confirm correct settings for Low
Flow alarm limit and viscosity
• Confirm blood pressure (MAP < 85 mmHg)
• Evaluate cause of poor left ventricle filling
(include attaching patient to monitor to
evaluate pump wave form) and consider
volume resuscitation if indicated
• If no potential patient cause can be identified–
download/email patient log files
• Consider ECHO
• Contact HeartWare Clinical Support
• Confirm pump flow trends to evaluate a
decrease in mean flow
• Download/email patient log files
• Consider volume resuscitation and/or correct
cause of poor left ventricular filling
• Consider decreasing pump speed
• Contact HeartWare Clinical Support
• Consider ECHO
Instructions For Use
I
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