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Help with PICU calculations please!!!



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Aug 03, 2008 03:27 PM

Help with PICU calculations please!!!

Updated Aug 03, 2008 at 03:31 PM by NurseLay

Okay so I was given this math test, and it says that I can use any online or paper resource, so I'm using you guys! I have completed it, but there are two that I just don't seem to understand. Here goes:

1. A 4 year old child weighs 15 kg. A morphine drip (112.5mg in 50ml of NS) is infusing at 1 ml/hr. How many mg/kg/hr are being delivered?
---Okay, so I figured that the concentration is 2.25mg/1ml and then 2.25mg/15kg/1hr=33.75mg/kg/hr-----This is a different answer than what I had written on my paper the first time. Initially I had 7.5mg/kg/hr and now I don't understand how I got that. Please explain!!!!!

For question two---Rule of sixes--For drugs infused in doses of 0.1mcg/kg/min (epinephrine, isoproterenol, levarterenol, Neo-synephrine): Multiply weight in kg by 0.6, place this number in milligrams of drug in solution totaling 100mg---then 1ml/hr delivers 0.1mcg/kg/min

2. A 10 year old boy weighing 88 lbs needs an epinephrine drip (based on rules of sixes) made so 1ml/hr=0.1mcgs/kg/min. How many milligrams of epinephrine would be added to bag a NS to equal 100ml?
---Okay, so I got 40kg, then using the rule 40kg x 0.6=24mg My answer 24mg of epinephrine would be added???

I am totally confused Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance guys!!!

Sorry Janfrn, I didn't know I double posted, please delete one. I don't know how.


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3 Comments
No. 1
from janfrn
Old Aug 03, 2008, 04:21 PM

Default Re: Help with PICU calculations please!!!
Originally Posted by NurseLay View Post
Okay so I was given this math test, and it says that I can use any online or paper resource, so I'm using you guys! I have completed it, but there are two that I just don't seem to understand. Here goes:

1. A 4 year old child weighs 15 kg. A morphine drip (112.5mg in 50ml of NS) is infusing at 1 ml/hr. How many mg/kg/hr are being delivered?
---Okay, so I figured that the concentration is 2.25mg/1ml and then 2.25mg/15kg/1hr=33.75mg/kg/hr-----This is a different answer than what I had written on my paper the first time. Initially I had 7.5mg/kg/hr and now I don't understand how I got that. Please explain!!!!!
Okay, I'm not getting either of your responses!! Let's start with what we have... an infusion of morphine 112.5 mg in 50 mL NS... 112.5 mg / 50 mL = 2.25 mg/mL. The infusion is running at 1 mL/hr... or 2.25 mg/hr. Right? 2.25mg/hr / 15 kg = 0.15 mg/kg/hr. Or if you prefer, 150 mcg/kg/hr. (It's a lot, but it's not even close to the highest I've ever run.)


Originally Posted by NurseLay View Post
For question two---Rule of sixes--For drugs infused in doses of 0.1mcg/kg/min (epinephrine, isoproterenol, levarterenol, Neo-synephrine): Multiply weight in kg by 0.6, place this number in milligrams of drug in solution totaling 100mg---then 1ml/hr delivers 0.1mcg/kg/min

2. A 10 year old boy weighing 88 lbs needs an epinephrine drip (based on rules of sixes) made so 1ml/hr=0.1mcgs/kg/min. How many milligrams of epinephrine would be added to bag a NS to equal 100ml?
---Okay, so I got 40kg, then using the rule 40kg x 0.6=24mg My answer 24mg of epinephrine would be added???
Bingo! That one is easy. If you want to try a different method, you could do this: 40 kg X 0.1 mcg X 60 minutes /1000 mcgs (in 1 mg) and you'll get the smae answer.

Originally Posted by NurseLay View Post
Sorry Janfrn, I didn't know I double posted, please delete one. I don't know how.
Don't worry, I took care of it.
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No. 2
from NurseLay
Old Aug 03, 2008, 04:48 PM

Default Re: Help with PICU calculations please!!!
Thank you Jan, I really appreciate it! It seemed so confusing! Maybe I was thinking too much into it. I really don't know.
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No. 3
from janfrn
Old Aug 03, 2008, 05:48 PM

Default Re: Help with PICU calculations please!!!
Yeah, you were. Always start with what you have, then figure out what you need to give you what you want. Most of our math is simple algebra. I sucked at math all the way through school, and If I can do a lot of the calcs in my head now, you can do it anytime with a calculator!
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