Calculating PGE drips

Specializes in NICU.

Hi everyone! I am a new nurse still in orientation and working in the NICU. Yesterday was my first time having an intensive assignment (as opposed to progressive) and I was taking care of a little guy waiting for a new heart. He was on a prostaglandin drip. My preceptor went over how to calculate the drip with me and I understood it. Later in the day she even gave me someone else's PGE to second check and I did it correctly. Now here I am at home today trying to go over it and I cant figure out how to second check someone else's rate. Can anyone help me out?

Baby is 3.9 kg

PGE order is .025mcg/kg/min

PGE concentration is 500mcg/mL

Thanks in advance for any help

9 Answers

Specializes in NICU.

I'm not sure if this is correct, so we'll wait and see if one of the other more experienced ones can come in and help us out, but I wanted to try and see if I could do this correctly .........

My preceptor told me when checking the rates, to multiply each thing. So each "/" means to multiply. Therefore:

(.025)mcg X (3.9)kg X (60) min = 5.85

Then you divide that by the concentration, so:

(.025)mcg X (3.9)kg X (60) min = 5.85 = .0117 mL/hr

500 mcg/mL

Specializes in critical care, med/surg.
I'm not sure if this is correct, so we'll wait and see if one of the other more experienced ones can come in and help us out, but I wanted to try and see if I could do this correctly .........

My preceptor told me when checking the rates, to multiply each thing. So each "/" means to multiply. Therefore:

(.025)mcg X (3.9)kg X (60) min = 5.85

Then you divide that by the concentration, so:

(.025)mcg X (3.9)kg X (60) min = 5.85 = .0117 mL/hr

500 mcg/mL

Not sure if that's right though ........ I wonder if I did it right?!

I calculated using a different method and got the same answer. I think the post that Love4Me posted was calculated using a different concentration-500mcg/50mL compared to the 500mcg/mL that you used:)

Specializes in NICU.

we actually have charts for things like dopamine, dobutamine, epi, prostaglandin. You look at weigh in grams across the top then the mcg/kg/min down the side. It then gives you the hourly rate according to our hospitals standard concentration. It's nice because there is less room for error and is quicker in an emergency.

RainDreamer,

I think you've got it.

Specializes in NICU.

Yay! I got it!

Well I guess I did get it, since no one is disputing it, lol. So there ya go, there's your answer!

Specializes in NICU.

I am okay with calculating the rate. It ran at 0.6 ml/hr.

I use the dose desired/dose on hand calculation method:

dose desired: 0.025mcg/kg/min = 0.025/3.9 = 0.0975mcg/min

(then change mcg/min to mcg/hr since that is

what the pump runs at) = 0.0975 X 60 min

= 5.85mcg/hr

dose on hand : 500mcg/50ml = 10mcg/ml

complete calculation: 5.85mcg per hour/ 10mcg per ml

= 0.585ml/hr

Now my problem is with the second checking of someone else who is getting ready to start PGE. They bring me their syringe of PGE, tell me the kiddos weight and the rate they are running it at. Then I am supposed to work things backwords and tell them the original doctors order (0.025mcg/min). I hope that made sense.

I am just hoping that someone here with more experience has an easy way of helping me learn and remember this. Thanks!

Specializes in NICU.

You guys are right. My original post should have had the concentration 500mcg/50ml. Sorry:cool:

Specializes in NICU.

Okie dokie. Well I'm done here.

Good luck.

Love4Me said:
You guys are right. My original post should have had the concentration 500mcg/50ml. Sorry

Doh! I should have known that something was up with that concentration!

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