One explanation for broken or ruptured membranes in the hydraulic pressure transducers PI & PO of Phoenix machines.
Is Operator Error when manually returning blood back to the Patient when Machine is shut down, and leaving the venous line in the venous clamp assy by accident. The result will be that the saline will migrate into the dailysate line via an Reverse Osmosis effect and creating fluid back pressure. In most cases the venous drip chamber on the blood cartridge will crack first
I came across a machine problem on the floor, the machine could not be repaired (Blood pump error)and was shut down and then I asked the Operator to return the blood manually. When I came back with a new machine for replacement I noticed that the Operator had hand pumped approx. 500 ml of saline into the dialyzer (high flux) but forgot to take the venous blood line out of the venous clamp assy.
In this case, the back pressure did crack and rupture the pressure transducer membrane in PO before popping off any other hydraulic lines.
The line that did pop off was at the "T" (OR3) between PI and PO and the fluid also ran down into the connector of PI and also followed the wire into PI housing creating a false reading for the PI Transducer.
Replaced damaged PO and Saved PI by taking ass'y apart to dry off and remove salt residue.
Do not be afraid to take apart Presssure Transducers to check and clean for fliud conatmination if you are getting false readings.
Is Operator Error when manually returning blood back to the Patient when Machine is shut down, and leaving the venous line in the venous clamp assy by accident. The result will be that the saline will migrate into the dailysate line via an Reverse Osmosis effect and creating fluid back pressure. In most cases the venous drip chamber on the blood cartridge will crack first
I came across a machine problem on the floor, the machine could not be repaired (Blood pump error)and was shut down and then I asked the Operator to return the blood manually. When I came back with a new machine for replacement I noticed that the Operator had hand pumped approx. 500 ml of saline into the dialyzer (high flux) but forgot to take the venous blood line out of the venous clamp assy.
In this case, the back pressure did crack and rupture the pressure transducer membrane in PO before popping off any other hydraulic lines.
The line that did pop off was at the "T" (OR3) between PI and PO and the fluid also ran down into the connector of PI and also followed the wire into PI housing creating a false reading for the PI Transducer.
Replaced damaged PO and Saved PI by taking ass'y apart to dry off and remove salt residue.
Do not be afraid to take apart Presssure Transducers to check and clean for fliud conatmination if you are getting false readings.
