Drip Calculations Jeremy Maddux, NREMTP CALCULATING DRIP RATES Calculating Drops Per Minute gtts/min = volume to be infused

X gtts/mL of administration set total time in minutes Examples: You are ordered to infuse 500 cc of NS over 3 hours. Using a 15 gtts/mL administration set what drip rate would you use? gtts/min = 500 mL X 15 gtts/mL = 41.66 gtts/min 180 minutes A nurse informs you that an IV of NS was started 3 hours ago and that 500 mL have infused into the patient. The fluid is infusing through a macrodrop administration set (10 gtts/mL). What is the rate of the IV? Rate = 500 mL X 10 gtts/mL = 27.77 gtts/min 180 minutes You are about to transfer a patient that has been on an IV of NS for 3 hours running at 28 gtts/min on a macrodrop administration set (10 gtts/min). How much fluid has this patient received? Volume = 28 gtts/min = 2.8 mL/hr 10 gtts/mL Calculating Solution Concentration mg in solution divided by mL in solution Example: To prepare your lidocaine infusion you have mixed 2 grams of lidocaine into 500 mL of D5W. How much lidocaine is in 1 mL of this solution? 2000 mg = 4 mg/mL 500 mL To prepare your dopamine infusion you have mixed 800 mg of dopamine into 500 mL of D5W. How much dopamine is in 1 mL of this solution? 800 mg = 1.6 mg 500 mL 1.6 mg X 1000 = 1600 mcg/mL 2.8 mL/hr X 180 min = 504 mL

Revised January 27, 2001

Drip Calculations Jeremy Maddux, NREMTP Calculating mg/min OR Calculating mcg/min (Lidocaine / Norepinephrine) gtts/min = volume on hand X drip factor X desired dose dosage on hand Example: A physician wants you to administer 2 mg per minute of lidocaine to a patient. To prepare the infusion you mix 2 grams of lidocaine in an IV bag containing 500 mL of D5W. You will use a microdrop administration set (60 gtts/mL). Calculate the infusion rate. gtts/min = 500 mL X 60 gtts/mL X 2 mg = 30 gtts/min 2000 mg Calculating mcg/kg/min gtts/min = desired dose X weight (kg) X drip factor solution concentration Example: A physician wants you to administer 5 mcg/kg/min of dopamine to a patient weighing 85 kg. To prepare the infusion you mix 800 mg of dopamine in 500 mL of D5W (1600 mcg/mL). You will use a macrodrop administration set (60 gtts/mL). Calculate the infusion rate. gtts/min = 5 mcg X 85 kg X 60 gtts/mL = 15.94 gtts/min 1600 mcg Using the same information from the above patient calculate the same infusion using a macrodrop administration set (15 gtts/mL). gtts/min = 5 mcg X 85 kg X 15 gtts/mL = 3.98 gtts/min 1600 mcg Magic Number solution concentration divided by patient weight (kg) divided by 60 minutes = MN magic number X mL/hr = mcg/min Example: You are assuming care of a patient that is on dopamine. The nurse tells you that the physician ordered her to run the infusion at 25 mL/hr. She is not sure how many mcg/kg/min the patient is on. The patient weighs 90 kg and the dopamine has a solution concentration of 1600 mcg/mL. How many mcg/kg/min is the patient on? 1600 mcg = 17.77 90 kg Revised January 27, 2001 17.77 = 0.296 60 min 0.296 X 25 mL/hr = 7.41 mcg/kg/min