Question

The MD has ordered the following IV’s to run consecutively over 24 hrs.

            #1        925 mL RL

            #2        750 mL D5NS

            #3        600 mL NS c 20 mEq KCl

Calculate the volume per hour.

Calculate the volume per minute using standard macrodrip tubing

Calculate the volume per minute using standard microdrip tubing

Answer 1

Step 1:

Calculate the IV volume per hour:

Volume per hour = Total amount of volume X drop factor/ Time in hours

The total amount of volume = 925 + 750 + 600+ 20

= 2295

Drop factor for regular set = 15gtt/min

Time in hours = 24

Step 2:

Volume per hour = 2295 X 15 / 24

= 1434.37

The volume per hour = 1434mL/hr

Step 3:

Calculate volume per minute using standard macro drip

Volume per minute = Total amount of fluid X drop factor / Time in minutes

Drop factor for standard macro drip = 15gtts/min

step 4:

Volume per minute = 2295 X 15 / 24 X 60

= 23.91

The volume per minute using standard macro drip = 24mL/ min

Step 5:

Calculate volume per minute using standard micro drip

Volume per minute = Total amount of volume X drop factor / Time in minutes

Drop factor for micro drip = 60gtt/min

Volume per minute = 2295 x 60 / 24 X 60

= 95.63

The volume per minute using standard micro drip = 96mL/min.