Adjusting Heparin Adjustment Dosage Calculation

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

Good day:

For our first clinical day we need to bring with us a pre-test set of questions including dosage calculations. One of the questions involved a type of dosage calculations for which we've not yet been taught. I was wondering if anyone here who is familiar with the dosage calculation math necessary to adjust IV infusion rates based on PTT results can double check my math for problem #14 in the picture:

In case the picture is not clear:

Your patient is currently receiving 1200 units/hr of heparin (24 ml/hr)

Your PTT result requires you to increase the drop by 4 units/kg/hr

Heparin concentration: 25,000 units/500 ml (50 units/ml)

Patient weight: 75 kg

What is the new rate to set your pump at?

I came up with 30 ml/hr based on doing the following steps:

1. Determine the increase by taking 75 kg multiplied by 4 units/kg/hr to get 300 units/hr

2. Convert that answer to an mL/hr by taking 300 units/hr / 50 units (Heparin concentration) x 1 mL to get 6 mL/hr

3. Add the 6 mL/hr to the existing pump rate of 24 ml/Hr to have the new pump rate at 30 mL/hr

Is the above correct?

Thank you.

[smf0903]

Perfect Good job!

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

Thank you for confirming; I wasn't sure since we never had to do this type of calculation before.

[AliNajaCat]

This was a good example of how students should think out loud and explain how they got there when they ask here. Good on ya.

[cocoa_puff]

Great job!

[loving2024, BSN, RN]

Good job bro. I cant believe this is our final semester. I remember when we used to solve all those dosage calculations here 2 years ago.

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

Thank you so much... this Monday, my last dosage calculation "4th semester entrance exam" where I have to get 100% in order to continue (no pressure). And you are right... last year... the calculations were so new to me... and this past Tuesday, I felt good because I was helping a 40+ year RN double check a dosage calculation... feels good.