Dopamine drip calculation

[Elmhurst]

Can anyone tell me if I did these right?

1.) Order: Dopamine drip mixed 800 mg in 500ml D5W to maintain BP of > 70 mmHg. The patient weighs 6.5 kg. How many mcg/kg/min of Dopamine is the patient receiving if the IV is infusing at 3.5 ml/hr?

The answer I got was 606.6 mcg/kg/mi. Is this right?

2.) You have just received an order to adjust the above Dopamine drip to deliver 10 mcg.kg/ min because the systolic BP is now 100mmHG. Calculate the desired infusion?

The answer I got was 2.4 ml/hr.

[AgentBeast, BSN, RN]

1.) No it's not right. You would kill the patient giving them 606.6 mcg/kg/min.

800mg/500mL = 1.6mg/mL

3.5mL/60min = 0.0583mL/min

1.6mg/mL*0.0583ml/min=0.09328mg/min

0.09328mg/min/6.5kg=0.01435mg/kg/min= 14.35mcg/kg/min

2.) Is close enough it works out to 2.4375mL/hr.

How did you get #2 correct yet mess up #1 so badly?

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

Can anyone tell me if I did these right?

1.) Order: Dopamine drip mixed 800 mg in 500ml D5W to maintain BP of > 70 mmHg. The patient weighs 6.5 kg. How many mcg/kg/min of Dopamine is the patient receiving if the IV is infusing at 3.5 ml/hr?

The answer I got was 606.6 mcg/kg/mi. Is this right?

2.) You have just received an order to adjust the above Dopamine drip to deliver 10 mcg.kg/ min because the systolic BP is now 100mmHG. Calculate the desired infusion?

The answer I got was 2.4 ml/hr.

Number one is screaming for dimensional analysis:

3.5 ml/hr * 800 mg/500 ml * 1000 mcg/1 mg * 1 hr/ 60 min * 1/ 6.5 kg = 14.35 mcg/kg/min

I see how you got this one wrong; you mulitplied by kg instead of dividing. You answer was mcg * kg/min instead of mcg/kg/min.

#2:

10 mcg/kg/min * 6.5 kg * 500 ml/ 800 mg * 1mg / 1000 mcg * 60 min/ 1 hr = 2.4 ml/hr

[Elmhurst]

Scott, thank you for your help.. I think I tried to do the first one when I was too tired.. I looked at it again today and thought the same thing you did.

[Elmhurst]

Thank-you MN- Nurse!! That's exactly what I did!