HELP! What am I doing wrong with this calculation?

Published

For the life of me, I can't figure this out (dimensional analysis). Anyone out there with a clear head...I must be very tired!! Thanks.

A Dopamine drip (400mg in 250 cc of IV fluid) is infusing on your 80 kg patient at 20 cc/hour. How many mcg/kg/min are infusing for this patient?

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

a dopamine drip (400mg in 250 cc of iv fluid) is infusing on your 80 kg patient at 20 cc/hour. how many mcg/kg/min are infusing for this patient?

400 mg/250 cc
(dose on hand)
x 1/80 kg
(patient's weight)
x 20cc/hour
(infusion rate)
x b1000 mcg?1 mg
(conversion factor)
x 1 hour/60 minutes
(conversion factor)
=
6.66 mcg/kg/min

that is correct

Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

however, do not forget to round your answer at the end....

Specializes in Cardiac, Derm, OB.

mcg= 1000mcg/1mg x 400mg/250cc x 20cc/hr x 1hr/60min x wt/80kg =

kg/hr

8,000,000/1,200,000 = 6.66 or 6.7mcg/kg/min.

+ Join the Discussion