Question

A patient needs to have IV fluid replacement of Lactated Ringers to compensate for drainage of his chest tube. The order is written 500 mL over 12 hours. The IV tubing package reads a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL. How many drops per minute do you give to the patient? (Round to the nearest whole number

Answer 1

ANSWER.

* Calculation of drops per min (gtt/min).

      Formula

         Drops per min(gtt/min) = Volume(ml)/Time(min) * Drop factor(gtt/ml).

Here

    Volume(ml) = 500 ml.

     Time(min) = 720 min (12hrs).

     Drop factor(gtt/ml) = 15 gtt/ml.

As per above formula

      Drop factor (gtt/min) = 500/720 * 15

                                      = 0.69 * 15

                                      = 10.4

                                      = 10 gtt/min.