Question

A patient has a 20% body surface area burned. She weights 132 lbs. According to the Parkland Burn Formula, how much total fluid will you give her per hour in the first 8 hours? For the same patient, using a 10 gtt set, how many gtt/min would you run initially with an IV line? With a 15 gtt set, how many gtt/min will you run initially with an IV line?

Answer 1

A patient has a 20% body surface area burned.

She weighs 132 lbs, (60 kg)

1 kg = 2.2 lbs, 60 kg = 132lbs

The fluid calculation formula is (Parkland formula)

4ml x TBSA % x body weight (kg)

4ml x 20 x 60 kg = 4800 ml.

So, the Patient needs 4800 ml fluid in 24 hr.

In the first 8 hrs, we have to give 50% of fluid that means we have to give 2400 ml in first 8 hrs.

Drop factor = 10 gtt/ml

Drop calculation formula = (Total volume ml $\div$ Time in min) $\times$ drop factor

= (2400ml $\div$ 480 min) 10gtt/ml = 50 gtt/min

Intially IV will run at 50 gtt/min.

If drop factor will 15 gtt/min

Then (2400ml $\div$ 480 min) 15gtt/ml = 75 gtt/min

Intially IV will run at 75 gtt/min.