Question

A patient is being transferred to the Intensive Care Unit to be placed on a Cardizem (diltiazem) drip for his new onset atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular rate. Dr. M wants to initiate the Cardizem drip infusion at 5mg./hour. When you go to mix the Cardizem drip, you find that each vial of Cardizem has a concentration of 25mg./5ml.

How many vials of Cardizem do you need to add to a 100ml. bag of normal saline to achieve a 1:1 concentration of Cardizem?

At what rate ml./hour should the drip be running at? (4pt)

Answer 1

ANSWER.

* Calculation of number of vial required to achieve 1:1 concentration.

1 vial = 5 ml.

X vial =100 ml.

X * 5 = 1 * 100

5X = 100

X = 100/5

= 20 vials.

* Calculation of ml/hr.

Formula

ml/hr = volume(ml)/Time(hr).

calculation of volume(ml).

Volume(ml) = Desired dose(D)/Dose in hand(H) * Quantity(Q).

Here

Desired dose(D) = 5 mg.

Dose in hand(H) = 25 mg.

Quantity(Q) = 5 ml.

As per above formula

Volume(ml) = D/H * Q

= 5/25 * 5

= 0.2 * 5

= 1 ml.

Time = 1 hr.

So

ml/hr = 1 ml/hr.