Question

12. Patient weight: 32 kg Medication order: Nitroprusside 2 mcg/kg/min Pediatric dose: 200-500 mcg/kg/hr Drug available: Nitroprusside 50 mg/5 mL Dilution: 50.5 mg in 250 mL of NS at 19 mL/hr Will this dilution deliver 2 mcg/kg/min? A) True B) False Answer ________________A) True

explain to me why

Answer 1

We know that, 1000mcg = 1mg.

Dilution is 50.5mg which can be written as 50.5mgx1000= 50,500mcg

Now, weight of patient = 32 kg

Therefore quantity of Nitroprusside = 32 kg x 2mcg/kg = 64mcg,

Dilution = 50,500mcg/250ml = 202mcg/mL (Normal simplification)

Given Rate = 19mL/hr

Therefore administered dose = 202mcg/mL x 19mL/hr = 3,838 mcg/hr.

Now, 1 hr = 60 min

which means administered dose = 3,838 mcg/60min = 63.97 mcg/min or 64 mcg/min (rouding off)

And again patient weight is 32 kg which means he is getting 2 mcg/kg/min.