Question

1. Your patient is on 0.9% NaCL IV at a rate of 30mL/hr. You are using a drip set that provides 60 drops/mL. What is your drip rate in drops/second (gtt/s)?

2. Calculate the flow rate for an IV infusion of 1 L to run over 8 hours with a drip set calibrated at 20 drops/mL.

Please show work for both

Answer 1

Answer 1:

let us first write down the information provided in the question:

• Infusion rate = 30 ml/hr
• the drip set provides = 60 drops / ml ( this is the drip factor)

Therefore,

• 1 ml = 60 drops
• So 30 ml = x drops
• x drops = 30 ml x 60 drop/ 1 ml = 1800 drop -------- (1)

let us convert 1 hour to second.

• 1 hour = 60 minute
• 1 minute = 60 second
• 1 hour = 60 x 60 = 3600 sec ----------(2)

therefore:

30 ml/ hr can be written as:

• 30 ml / hour = 1800 drop / 3600 sec ( from 1 and 2)
• 1800 drop / 3600 sec
• 0.5 drop /sec

Answer 2

et us first write down the information provided in the question:

• Infusion volume = 1 L
  • let us convert liters into milliliter = 1 litre = 1000 ml
• infusion time = 8 hour
  • let us convert hours into minute =8 x 60 minute (1 hour = 60 minute)
• drip rate calibration = 20 drop / ml
• Formula for flow rate =
  • Volume (ml) x drop factor (gtts/mll) / minute
  • 1000 ml x 20 gtts/ml / 8 x 60 minute
  • 1000 x 20 gtts / 8 x 60 min
  • 20000 gtts / 480 min
  • 41.66 gtts / min
  • 42 gtts / min

The drip rate should be 42 gtts /min.