Question

CRITICAL CARE PROBLEMS

#16. The physician orders a lidocaine IV drip to infuse at 3mg/min for premature ventricular contractions. The medication is supplied in 1g/250mL of D5W. Calculate the flow rate in mL/hr.

#17. The physician has ordered a Levophed drip at 8mcg/min for a patient with hypotension. The Levophed concentration is 4mg/250mL D5W. How many mL/hr should the Levophed be infused?

#18. During your morning assessment, you note that a patient with congestive heart failure has an Inocor drip infusing at 15mL/hr. The patient's weight is 70 kg. With a concentration of Inocor 500mg/250mL D5W, how many mcg/kg/min is the patient receiving?

#19. The physician orders dopamine IV drip at 4mcg/kg/min for low blood pressure. The patient weighs 154 lb. The medication is supplied in 400mg/250mL of 0.45% NS. Calculate the flow rate in mL/hr.

#20. The physician orders a nitroglycerin IV drip to infuse at 8mcg/min for chest pain. The medication is supplied in 25mg/250mL of D5W. Calculate the flow rate in mL/hr.

Answer 1

16. Desire dose lidocaine IV drip at 3mg/min

Supply 1g/250mL of D5W means 1000mg in 250 ml

So, 1mg in 0.25ml

according to the desired dose in 1 minute we required 0.75ml of the drug.

So, the flow rate per hour will be 45 ml

0.75ml x 60 = 45ml

17. Desire dose Levophed drip 8mcg/min for a patient with hypotension

Supply 4mg/250mL D5W means 4000mcg in 250ml

means 0.0625ml contain 1mcg of drug

250ml = 4000mcg = 0.0625ml

means 0.5 ml of drug required per minute.

0.0625ml x 8mcg = 0.5ml

So, Levophed should be infused in 30ml per hour

0.5ml x 60min = 30m/

18. Supply of inocor is 500mg/250mL D5W

means 1ml D5W contains 2mg.

Infusion is on 15ml/hr, which means 30mg per hour and 0.5mg per minute.

That means 500mcg per minute.

Patient weight is 70kg

500mcg + 70kg = 7.14mcg

so, the patient receiving 7.14mcg/kg/min

19. orders dose of dopamine IV drip is at 4mcg/kg/min for low blood pressure.

Supply is in 400mg/250mL of 0.45% NS. (1mg of the drug in 0.625ml)

Patient weight is 154lb is 69.85 kg approx 70kg

the patient required 280mcg in a minute and 16,800 mcg per hr

That means 16.8mg per hour

0.625ml x 16.8mg = 10.5ml

the flow rate will be 10.5ml per hour