mcg/kg/min

Idaho Murse · Apr 30, 2009

the 800mg in 250mL and 3200mcg/mL doesnt add up to me. are you sure you have your numbers right?

In my mind I get 2 different answers

pt wt=70kg

My first answer is 800*10(mg>mcg)/250mL=32mcg/mL, 32mL*12mL(per hour)=384mcg per hour, 384mcg/70kg=5.49mcg/kg/hr....=0.091mcg/kg/min

Answer 2 using 3200mcg/mL

3200mcg/mL*12mL/hr=38400mcg/hr, 38400mcg/70kg=548.57mcg/kg....=9.14mcg/kg/min

cursedandblessed · Apr 30, 2009

I think it's idahoMurse2B's second answer.

Couture85 · May 1, 2009

yes, 9.14 is it! Thank you so, so much!

Couture85 · May 1, 2009

I need to see how it's worked. Would someone write it out totally just so I can see how to do it?

Daytonite, BSN, RN · May 1, 2009

a continuous dopamine drip is infusing at 12 ml/hr. patient weight is 154 lbs. calculate dose of drug in mcg/kg/min if the label on the bag reads 800 mg in 250 ml, equivalent to 3200 mcg/ml.

12 ml/hour

(infusion rate)

x 3200 mcg/ml

(dose on hand)

x 2.2 kg

(conversion to kilograms)

/154 pound

(patient weight)

x 1 hour/60 minutes

(conversion factor)

= 9.1428 mcg/kg/minute

, rounds off to

9.14 mcg/kg/minute

Couture85 · May 1, 2009

You're an angel! Thank you so much!!

Couture85 · May 1, 2009

Would someone work this one out so that I can see how it's done? A 90 kg patient is receiving Levophed at 60ml/hr. The label on the bag reads 8 mg in 1000 ml of 5% dextrose. How many mcg/kg/min is the patient receiving?

I failed pharmacology last semester and if I don't pass my final, I'm out of nursing. I truly appreciate all of the help I'm getting here. You guys are the best!

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · May 1, 2009

...you passed gen chem? This is a simple unit problem.

Couture85 · May 1, 2009

Geez, thanks for being kind.

No, we don't have to have chemistry at my school.

cursedandblessed · May 1, 2009

8 mg = 8000mcg, so you have 8000 mcg in a 1000 mL bag which is the equivalent of 8 mcg per mL

Your patient is being infused at 60 mL per hour which is equal to 1mL per minute

The 1 mL has 8 mcg in it

so you would divide the 8 mcg by the patients weight in KG (90)

which equals 0.0888888 which rounds to 0.09 mcg/kG/min

I think that's right. I need to review formulas for my 2nd dosage calculations class this summer. Hopefully daytonite will come by and do it for you.

Hoping4RNin2010 · May 1, 2009

I got the same thing.

We never had to do this at my school (at least not yet) and so I'm just going by what was posted here and plugged all the current info into the formula Daytonite gave you....

first I figured if there is 8mg in 1000ml which is the same as 8mcg in 1ml

From there I just did everything Daytonite did and got

60ml (infused) x 8(dose on hand) / 90 (pt wt in Kg)/60 (minutes)=0.088 rounded to 0.09mcg/kg/minute.