Question

1. If a medication order calls for a dobutamine drip, 5 mcg/kg/min, for a patient weighing 232 lb, what should be the drip rate, in drops per minute, if the 125-mL infusion bag contains 250 mg of dobutamine and a microdrip chamber is used that delivers 60 drops/mL? (Round to the nearest WHOLE number)

Answer 1

Patient weight= 232lb

= 232/2.2= 105 kg approximately

Desired dose= 5 MCQ/kg/min.

Available dose= 250mg

Available volume/dilution= 125 ml

Drug concentration=( available dose×1000)/dilution

= ( 250mg×1000)/125ml

= 2000mcg/ml

Rate of infusion=( mcg× body weight× 60)/drug concentration

= ( 5× 105×60)/2000

= 15.75.ml/hr

Given Drop factor= 60drop/ml

So drop/min=( volume to be infuced×drop factor)/time in minutes

=(15.75ml×60)/60 minutes

=15.75, approximately 16drops/minutes