Question

The Patient is to receive 500 units/hr, with a drop factor of 60gtt/mL. On hand you have 10,000 units in 500mL D5W Solution. Calculate how many drops per minute you should set the pump.

Answer 1

Solution:

Ordered dose is 500 units/hour

Drop factor given 60 gtt/ml

Available dose inhand is 10000 units in 500 ml D5W

Step 1:

In order to calculate ml/hour we need to convert our dose into its equivalence in ml.

If ; 10000 units in 500 ml

Then 500 units in X ml

Therefore;

10000×500=500×X

X=25 ml/hour

therefore patient is recieving 25 ml/hour.

Step 2:

if ,       500 units/hour     areadministered with drop factor 60gtt/ml

then, 10000 units/hour   will be administered with             X gtt/ml

cross multiply

500 X=6010000

X=6010000500

   X=1200 gtt/hour

as 1 hour=60 minutes

X=1200 60

   X=20 gtt/minute

Therefore the pump should be set up at 20 drops/minute.