Step 2: Use of the 3-way tap
Tutorial demonstrations by Artemio Gonzales, Specialist Respiratory Nurse, ABUHB.
In this tutorial, Arte outlines the following steps for use of the 3-way tap:
1. The different positions of the 3-way tap
The position of the 3-way tap indicates which channels of the chest drain are open and which are closed. If you are not sure what ‘open’ and ‘closed’ looks like on the chest drain devices used on your ward, ask a member of the pleural team.
The correct position of a chest drain, to facilitate drainage and reduce the risk of leaks, is:
- Open to the patient
- Open to the bottle
- Closed to the side port
The cap of the side port should also always be in place.
2. How to correct the position of the 3-way tap
If the position of the 3-way tap is incorrect and needs correcting, ensure the cap of the side port is in place and return the 3-way tap to the correct position.
3. Clamping a 3-way tap
Clamping a 3-way tap means to ‘close’ one of the channels of the chest drain, and this is usually done during a procedure such as flushing a blocked circuit. This will be covered in step 3.
Step 2: Use of the 3-way tap
Tutorial demonstrations by Artemio Gonzales, Specialist Respiratory Nurse, ABUHB.
In this tutorial, Arte outlines the following steps for use of the 3-way tap:
1. The different positions of the 3-way tap
The position of the 3-way tap indicates which channels of the chest drain are open and which are closed. If you are not sure what ‘open’ and ‘closed’ looks like on the chest drain devices used on your ward, ask a member of the pleural team.
The correct position of a chest drain, to facilitate drainage and reduce the risk of leaks, is:
- Open to the patient
- Open to the bottle
- Closed to the side port
The cap of the side port should also always be in place.
2. How to correct the position of the 3-way tap
If the position of the 3-way tap is incorrect and needs correcting, ensure the cap of the side port is in place and return the 3-way tap to the correct position.
3. Clamping a 3-way tap
Clamping a 3-way tap means to ‘close’ one of the channels of the chest drain, and this is usually done during a procedure such as flushing a blocked circuit. This will be covered in step 3.
