Question

An old patient receive a continuous infusion of norepinephrine for BP support. The nurse has a 250- mL bag of D5W containing 4 mg of norepinephrine. Which rate is most appropriate to infuse the norepinephrine drip at a dose of 0.03 mcg/kg/minute? Write your calculations. (the weigh of the patient is 70 kg)

A. 8 mL/hour.


B. 13 mL/hour.

C. 31.5 mL/hour.

D. 79 mL/hour

Answer 1

▪Answer is 8 ml/hr

250 ml D5W containing 4mg ( or 4×1000=4000mcg ) of norepinephrine.

So 1 ml D5W contain = 4000/250
                            = 16 mcg

70 kg patient need norepinephrine
                            = 0.03×70×60
                            = 126 mcg/hr

Rate of infusion = 126/16
                            = 7.87 ~ 8 ml/ hr