Question

The stroke team assesses the patient and decides to prepare alteplase (t-Pa) for administration. They order 0.9 mg/kg (max dose 90 mg) with 10% administered as a bolus and the remaining 90% as an infusion over 60 minutes. The patient weighs 124 lbs.

1. How many mg is the bolus? How many mg is the remaining infusion?

2. You have alteplase 1mg/mL on hand. How many mLs is the bolus? How many mLs in the remaining infusion?

Answer 1

Answer : Bolus = 5 mg, Remaining infusion = 45.4 mg

Bolus = 5 mLs, Remaining infusion = 45.4 mLs

alteplase order is 0.9 mg/ kg (max dose 90 mg)

Weight of the patient = 124 lbs

Convert weight to lbs to Kg

1 lbs = 0.453592

So weight of patient in Kg = 124 × 0.453592

Weight of the patient = 56 Kg

Calculate dose of medicine to be infused

0.9 mg/kg = 0.9 × 56

Medicine ordered = 50.4 mg

Bolus is 10 % of 50.4 mg

Bolus =

Bolus =5.04 mg

Bolus = 5 mg

Remaining infusion = 50.4 mg - 5mg

Remaining infusion = 45.4 mg

Available medicine strength is 1mg / 1ml

So bolus on mLs =

Bolus =

Bolus = 5 mLs

Remaining infusion in mLs =

Remaining infusion =

Remaining infusion = 45.4 mLs