iv calcualtions... again

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here i am needing help w/ iv calculations again! any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!! here's my problem:

add 10,000 units of heparin to 500 mL D5W and infuse @ 100 unit/hr

calculate the flow rate in ml/min

i also need some assistance here too cuz i have no clue where to start on this one!:

dobutamine 250 mg in 250 ml of D5W at 3.5 mcg/kg/min. determine rate in mcgtt/min for pt who weighs 120 lbs.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!

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Specializes in Med Surg, Mental Health.
here i am needing help w/ iv calculations again! any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!! here's my problem:

add 10,000 units of heparin to 500 mL D5W and infuse @ 100 unit/hr

calculate the flow rate in ml/min

i also need some assistance here too cuz i have no clue where to start on this one!:

dobutamine 250 mg in 250 ml of D5W at 3.5 mcg/kg/min. determine rate in mcgtt/min for pt who weighs 120 lbs.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!

On the first one. The ratio is 20 units per ML.

100/20 gives 5ml per hour. Divide by 60 and you get 0.08333333 or 8.3 mcg per minute.

ON the second one. How about this:

250mg/250ml = 1mg per 1ml

120# = 54.545Kilo

54.545 * 3.5 mcg = 190.90 MCG per minute

Then you need to know the type of tubing you have. Divide that into the above..

Hope that helps more than it confuses....:w00t:

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

first off, i work these problems in dimensional analysis which you really should learn to do. it will make your life a whole lot better in calculating these problems. it is also known as the factor/label method. you can find short tutorials on dimensional analysis on post #3 of this thread:

add 10,000 units of heparin to 500 ml d5w and infuse @ 100 units/hour. calculate the flow rate in ml/min.

dose desired
: 100 units/hour

dose on hand
: 10,000 units/500 ml

conversion factor
: 60 minutes = 1 hour

100 units/1 hour
(dose desired)
x 500 ml/10,000 units
(dose on hand)
x 1 hour/60 minutes
(conversion factor)
= 0.08333 ml/minute
, rounded off to
0.08 ml/minute

dobutamine 250 mg in 250 ml of d5w at 3.5 mcg/kg/min. determine the rate in microdrops/min for a patient who weighs 120 lbs.

dose desired
: 3.5 mcg/kg/minute

dose on hand
: 250 mg/250 ml

patient weight
: 120 pounds

conversion factor
: 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds

conversion factor
: 1 milligram = 1000 micrograms

you must know that microdrop tubing delivers 60 drops/1 ml

3.5 mcg/1 minute
(dose desired)
x 250 ml/250 mg
(dose on hand)
x 120 pounds/2.2 pounds
(patient weight conversion to kg)
x 60 gtts/1 ml
(drop factor of iv tubing)
x 1 mg/1000 mcg
(conversion factor)
= 11.45 drops/minute
, rounded off to
11 drops/minute
(a drop cannot be a fractional part)

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