Medical Calculations

Jun 09, 2009 08:09 AM

by stellatejido

I need help for my calculations. Not to sure of my answer on this. Appreciate your help. Thanks.

A patient is admitted for treatment of an overdose of paracetamol. The patient weighs 58kg. Acetylcysteine infusion is ordered. The available supply is a 20% solution in a 10ml vial. Instructions in the package insert read: Add 45ml of acetylcysteine to 200ml 5% glucose and infuse over 15min . How many milligrams of drug are infused in 15 min?

matilda123 · Jun 09, 2009, 12:42 PM

Re: Medical Calculations

no acetylcycstine amount is given, you cannot solve for mg as written.

stellatejido · Jun 09, 2009, 03:55 PM

Re: Medical Calculations

Thanks Matilda. Appreciate it.

The teacher has given this hint.

A patient is admitted for treatment of an overdose of paracetamol. The patient weighs 58kg. Acetylcysteine infusion is ordered. The available supply is a 20% solution in a 10ml vial. Instructions in the package insert read: Add 45ml of acetylcysteine to 200ml 5% glucose and infuse over 15min . How many milligrams of drug are infused in 15 min?

Just a hint – a % solution is made up based on grams per 100ml, so 20% would be 20 grams in 100ml, 2 grams in 10n ml, etc. This might change your answer.

matilda123 · Jun 10, 2009, 09:10 AM

Re: Medical Calculations

yes, it makes all the difference! now you can make an equation.

2 grams 10ml
______ = _____

X grams 45ml

10X = 90

X = 9grams

9 grams = 900 milligrams

900 mg is infused

*Daytonite* · Jun 10, 2009, 06:54 PM

A patient is admitted for treatment of an overdose of paracetamol. The patient weighs 58kg. Acetylcysteine infusion is ordered. The available supply is a 20% solution in a 10ml vial. Instructions in the package insert read: Add 45ml of acetylcysteine to 200ml 5% glucose and infuse over 15min . How many milligrams of drug are infused in 15 min?

A 20% solution will have
20 grams/100 mL x 1000 mg/1 gram (conversion factor) = 200 mg/mL

45 mL/1 (dose desired) x 200 mg/mL (solution dilution) = 9000 mg

So, 9000 mg of acetylcysteine will be infused in 15 minutes.

stellatejido · Jun 11, 2009, 01:27 AM

Re: Medical Calculations

To Matilda and Daytonite,

Thanks a lot for your help, really appreciate it.

God bless.

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Medical Calculations

Medical Calculations

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