Using the Farrell Valve System with Tube Feedings

Important information:

Some children have trouble with tube feedings because extra air in the stomach causes bloating. The Farrell™ Valve System can help your child to "burp" while being tube fed. This should help your child handle the feeding without vomiting or bloating.

View the step-by-step set up with images or watch the video.

Farrell Valve System

Instructions for setting up a Farrell Valve System:

  1. Clean hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer.

  2. Set up your child's feeding bag as you have been taught.

  3. Hang the Farrell bag on the pole. It needs to hang at the same height as the feeding bag.

  4. Close the white clamp that is on the Farrell line above the "Y" port.

  5. Open the blue clamp that is below the "Y" port.

  6. Insert the end of the feeding tubing into the "Y" port on the Farrell line.

  7. Prime the section of the Farrell line that is below the "Y" port, with formula.

  8. Insert the Farrell line connector into the feeding tube.

    When using the Farrell valve with a low-profile balloon G tube while feeding, use the right-angle extension set and connect the Farrell valve system directly to the feeding port of the extension set.

    When using the Farrell valve with a low-profile, non-balloon G tube, connect the decompression tubing to G tube. This will open the valve in the button and allow it to be vented. Do not use the right-angle feeding extension set with the Farrell valve. Connect the Farrell valve to the decompression tubing.

  9. Open the clamps on the Farrell line.

  10. The Farrell "Y" port should hang 4 to 7 inches below your child's belly button. This will allow gas to escape while the formula flows into your child.

  11. Begin to infuse the formula. Formula will move up and down in the Farrell line while the feed infuses.

  12. To stop using the Farrell Valve, close the white and blue clamps on the Farrell line.

  13. Change the Farrell set-up when you change the formula bag and tubing.

Instructions for checking for blockage in the line:

When using the Farrell valve, the feeding pump will not alarm if there is a blockage in the tubing. If there is a blockage, formula will continue to flow up into and fill the Farrell bag. Pay attention to the level of formula in the Farrell bag. If your tubing is blocked, unclog it as you were taught.

Instructions for giving medicine through a G tube with a Farrell valve:

If the medicine cannot be given with formula:

  1. Close the blue clamp.

  2. Stop the feeding pump.

  3. Give the medicine through the side port of the tube as you were taught.

  4. Hold the feed for as long as instructed.

  5. Open the blue clamp.

  6. Turn on the feeding pump and restart the feed.

If the medicine can be given with formula:

  1. Close the blue clamp.

  2. Stop the feeding pump.

  3. Give the medicine through the side port of the tube as you were taught.

  4. Close the white clamp for 30 minutes so that the medicine does not go up the Farrell line.

  5. Open the blue clamp

  6. Turn on the feeding pump and restart the feed.

Call your healthcare team with questions or concerns or if:

  • The formula backs up into the Farrell bag and will not go down the feeding tube.

  • Your child continues to gag or vomit.

  • Your child complains of or seems to have stomach pain.

Reviewed January 2026 by Carly Ehritz, MSN, RN, ACCNS-P