ResMed Astral Instruction sheet

Problem Solving your Childs
Home Ventilator (Astral)
the Astral Ventilator

Starship Respiratory Service LTV 7 Rev 2021
Problem Solving your Childs Home Ventilator (Astral)
You’re already a good problem solver. It’s something you do every day with all sorts of things. Trouble
shooting the Astral will get easier with experience but here are some general points:
1. Your child comes first. If you are having problems with equipment, always check your child is okay
first. If they are okay then you have time to sort the problem. If they are not, then you may need to
support them with your backup equipment (bag or second ventilator) until the problem is resolved.
2. Your child comes second too. Occasionally what seems like a technical problem is due to a change in
your child. Are they okay?
3. Be prepared: If you are having technical problems, check you have everything you need in case the
problem gets worse and/or you need to take your child to hospital.
4. Safe learning: With experience you will recognise most problems and know how to fix them. Your
health team will help you safely learn.
5. Be systematic: Some problems require you to carefully check things in a systematic way. Starting
with your child, the circuit, accessories and other parts of the setup, and then the ventilator. Then do
a learn circuit. Does this resolve the problem? If you keep a diary or observation chart, write down
details of problems and how you resolved them.
6. Get help: Contact your health team or technical support. The more information you can give them,
the better they can help. If there were alarms or error messages, write down the exact words (or
take a photo with your smartphone). Try to describe exactly what was happening. Sometimes
describing what else was going on at the time and any recent changes in setup can be vital clues.

Starship Respiratory Service LTV 7 Rev 2021
Problem Solving your Childs Ventilator
General Problem Solving:
a. Check the circuit setup –this is the most common cause of problems. Drain any water out of
the circuit. If you use a double-limb circuit, check the circuit adaptor too.
b. Do a ‘learn circuit’ (see section in booklet on how to do this). A learn circuit helps identify
problems and re-calibrates. It also does internal checks. This may resolve the problem.
c. Check you are doing things the right way –check your guides and/or with someone else.
d. Try swapping to your alternative ventilator. If the problem is resolved, this suggests the other
ventilator had an issue. If it persists, the problem may be elsewhere.

Starship Respiratory Service LTV 7 Rev 2021
Specific Astral Problem Solving
Fault/issue
Suggestions
Condensation in breathing
circuit
See ‘Troubleshooting the Humidifier’
Learn circuit failed
Check the circuit is the right type and set up correctly.
Check the circuit for leaks.
Repeat the ‘learn circuit’ (try with circuit straight)
If double-limb circuit, check the expiratory adaptor and the module
beneath it –check the blue membrane and sensor are pushed down flush
with the enclosure.
Learn circuit caution
This may indicate the circuit being used is higher resistance than the Astral
expects. This is still safe to use but discuss with your health team.
Circuit fault
Check the circuit for water, leaks or faults.
Perform a learn circuit.
If alarm persists, replace circuit + do another learn circuit.
Consider alternative ventilator/circuit.
Contact your health team.
Touch screen damaged or
unresponsive
Check on your child.
Switch to alternative respiratory support.
Try powering on/off the device.
If you can’t do this normally then disconnect the mains power, press and
hold both the green on/off button and the alarm mute button for at least
10 seconds. After 10 seconds the alarm button will flash. Release the
buttons. It will power down and can then be restarted as usual.
If this doesn’t resolve the problem, contact your health team.
For further information see pages 65-72 of your Resmed Astral User Guide.

Starship Respiratory Service LTV 7 Rev 2021
Specific Astral Problem Solving
Fault/issue
Suggestions
Battery fault messages
Check battery connections.
If fault persists, contact your health team.
Critical fault
Check on your child and transfer them to alternative ventilator or
manual bag.
Contact your health team.
Safety reset complete
The device detected a fault and was reset.
Check your child is okay.
If the alarm persists, switch to a back-up ventilator and return the device
for service.
Contact your health team.
System fault
Check your child is okay.
If the alarm persists, switch to a back-up ventilator and return the device
for service.
Contact your health team.
Safety reset complete
The device detected a fault and was reset.
Check your child is okay.
If the alarm persists, switch to a back-up ventilator and return the device
for service.
Contact your health team.
Error code XXX
Check on your child.
Consider switching to alternative respiratory support.
Contact your health team with the specific code.
For further information see pages 65-72 of your Resmed Astral User Guide.

Starship Respiratory Service LTV 7 Rev 2021
Apparent emergency health or technical problem:
Check and maintain child’s safety
Use alternative means of respiratory support and/or call for help as appropriate
Consider whether this is a technical (equipment) or child health issue.
Equipment / technical issue –troubleshooting
Maintain child’s safety at all times.
Check correct setup and operation.
Note any alarm messages.
Re-do learn circuit if appropriate.
Problem resolved
Document event and
actions taken to
resolve it.
Communicate with
your health team.
Safe & comfortable
Document event and
actions taken to
resolve it.
Communicate with
your health team.
Watch out for
comfort and safety
issues. Re-check
backup and
emergency
equipment.
Problem unresolved
Consider child’s safety and comfort.
Unsafe or uncomfortable
Switch to alternative
means of support
(bag and mask or
back-up ventilator as
appropriate).
Communicate with
your health team.
Document event and
the actions taken to
resolve it.
Watch for comfort
and safety issues.
Re-check backup and
emergency
equipment.
Consider transfer to
hospital
Emergency child health issue
Maintain child’s safety at all times.
Manage as appropriate (see guidelines).
Communicate with your health team.
Problem Solving Overview