FARRELL® Valve and Super FARRELL Valve
(Instructional Poster)
- a. Hang FARRELL Bag on same I.V. pole as feeding container.
- NOTE: The FARRELL Valve can be used with any type of enteral delivery system (enteral pump, syringe pump, gravity, or bolus).
- a. Insert enteral pump administration set connector into “Y” port on FARRELL Line. b. Prime enteral and FARRELL Lines (FARRELL Line: below FARRELL “Y” Port) with formula.
- a. NOTE: Make sure enteral line and Farrell line below “Y” Port are primed before connecting to patient tube.
b. The FARRELL “Y” Port should be at or below the patient’s umbilicus. - Insert FARRELL Line connector into feeding tube.
TIP: Manually decompress patient’s stomach with a 60cc syringe prior to connecting FARRELL Line into feeding tube. - Open both white and blue clamps on FARRELL Line. FARRELL Valve is now in operation. Normal fluid height of the FARRELL Line will be slightly above patient’s stomach level. Formula will continuously move up and down in the FARRELL Line.
- Formula will rise in FARRELL Line and may enter FARRELL Bag if feeding tube is occluded or if formula or gas refluxes from patient’s stomach. The FARRELL Valve Bag is vented to allow the escape of gas.
WARNING: When FARRELL Line is open, the pump’s “occlude” alarm will not function, as formula will continue to flow into FARRELL Bag. - To discontinue FARRELL Valve operation, close both WHITE and BLUE Clamps on FARRELL Line.
- Change the FARRELL Bag when the formula bag is changed. Recommended use of FARRELL Bag is 24 hours. Follow institutions procedure for disposal of formula bag set.
IMPORTANT: THE FARRELL BAG MUST BE THE SAME HEIGHT OR HIGHER THAN THE FEEDING CONTAINER.
b. Close WHITE CLAMP above FARRELL “Y” Port
TIPS
- Patient with overly distended stomach: Manually decompress with a 50/60 cc syringe, the patient’s stomach PRIOR to the initial use of either FARRELL Valve System.
- BEFORE priming the Enteral Feeding Line: Make sure the WHITE Clamp above the FARRELL “Y” Port is CLOSED and the BLUE Clamp below FARRELL “Y” Port is OPEN.
- IMPORTANT! In order for the FARRELL Valve to work properly, the FARRELL “Y” PORT MUST be AT or BELOW the patient’s umbilicus.
- When the Farrell bag is working properly, formula will continuously move up and down in the FARRELL Line.
- The FARRELL Valve continuously decompresses the patient’s stomach but mat NOT inflate with gas.
- It does not matter if the patient is receiving enteral formula continuously: As long as the patient is connected to the FARRELL Valve, the FARRELL System is providing gastric decompression. Keep the patient connected to the FARRELL Bag; preferably for 24 hours.
- When administering medication use the “Y” port on the feeding deviceif possible: Close BLUE Clamp before opening blue clamp to assure meds got into the stomach. Wait 5-10 minutes on the FARRELL Line tubing.
- When using the Farrell “Y” port or other inline “Y” port to administer medication or to flush:
Make sure the Pump Set Roller Clamp and FARRELL LINE WHITE Clamp found above the FARRELL “Y” Port are CLOSED and the FARRELL LINE BLUE Clamp below the FARRELL “Y” Port is OPEN.
CAUTION: While the FARRELL Valve is in operation, flow to patient is essentially controlled by gravity. With normal (non-FARRELL) operation, pump pressure (12-18 psi) may overcome and clear occlusions or kinks in feeding tube. With FARRELL Valve or Super FARRELL Valve operation, these occlusions may not be overcome, and FORMULA WILL BACK UP INTO FARRELL BAG. If formula begins to back up into FARRELL Bag, close the FARRELL Line WHITE Clamp above FARRELL “Y” Port and wait several minutes to determine if pump can then overcome occlusion.
THE FARRELL VALVE SYSTEM
Allows the evacuation of excess gas (gastric distension/bloating) from patients receiving enteral formula via feeding tubes and sets.
Possible causes of gastric distension:
- delayed gastric emptying
- positive pressure ventilation by CPAP
- neurological impairment
Due to gastric distension, patients can experience:
- severe pain
- inhibited lung expansion
- feeding intolerance