Y-piece

A Y-piece is a component or measuring point that plays an important role in systems for the supply of breathing air.

It is the point at which there is a separation from

the “mixed gas” found in the lungs and airways of humans (and animals), and
the separated gas streams
- Inspiratory gas or inhaled air
- Expiratory gas or exhaled air.

The Y-piece is the point from which the functional dead space is to be calculated. When ventilating in emergencies and supplying breathing air to divers or firefighters, for example, it is important that this dead space is kept as small as possible, as it reduces oxygen saturation and increases the required additional breathing depth ( pendulum breathing ). The Y-piece should therefore be arranged as close as possible to the person. Only for a few exercises in the case of functional disorders of the lungs is the dead space artificially enlarged in order to train behavior or muscles, for example.

The Y-piece is implemented

under this name for anesthetic systems ; today mostly made of plastic, previously made of metal.
in the case of the ventilation bag as a patient valve, directly together with the mask cone.
built into regulators within the second stage.
In modern respiratory masks , it is formed by the valve device on the inner mask.

literature

R. Larsen, H. Sonntag, D. Kettler: Anesthesia and intensive medicine for nurses and carers . Springer, Berlin / Heidelberg / New York / Tokyo 1984, ISBN 3-540-12810-7 .
HG Dönhöfer (Hrsg.): Textbook for the rescue service . 3. Edition. Hofmann, Augsburg 1978.