GE HealthCare is updating use instructions after reports certain systems may not switch to battery mode during AC power loss, potentially disrupting ventilation and agent delivery.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an early alert regarding a recall from GE HealthCare regarding certain Carestation 600 and 700 series anesthesia systems. According to the alert, GE HealthCare is recommending customers update use instructions for the systems due to the potential for an unexpected shutdown if the AC mains power is unplugged or experiences a loss of power.Â
Anesthesia systems operate on battery power in the event of a power failure where there is no continuous backup emergency power. If AC power is interrupted, these certain Carestation 600 and 700 series anesthesia systems will not automatically switch over to the battery supply mode and will reboot once power is restored. If this issue occurs, a temporary disruption of mechanical ventilation, manual ventilation, and volatile agent delivery may occur. Following the reboot, the system will not return to the previous ventilation settings.
If this situation is not identified and addressed by the user, the loss of ventilation may be life-threatening, according to the FDA. As of Nov 26, 2025, GE HealthCare has not reported any serious injuries or deaths associated with this issue.
The carestation anesthesia systems are intended to provide general inhalation anesthesia and ventilatory support to a wide range of patients, including neonatal, pediatric, and adult.
A list of the affected products can be found on the FDA’s website.
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