How to Calculate Infusion Rate in gtt/min for a Pediatric Patient?
What is the appropriate infusion rate in gtt/min for a pediatric patient?
If the physician orders 10 mg/kg/dose of a medication that is available as 25 mg/mL and the patient weighs 30 lb, what is the appropriate infusion rate in gtt/min?
Answer:
The appropriate infusion rate is approximately 6.53 gtt/min.
To calculate the appropriate infusion rate in gtt/min for a pediatric patient, follow these steps:
- Convert the patient's weight from pounds to kilograms by dividing by 2.205.
- Calculate the appropriate dose of the medication by multiplying the patient's weight (in kilograms) by the ordered dose per kilogram.
- Calculate the number of milliliters of medication needed by dividing the dose (in milligrams) by the concentration of the medication.
- Calculate the infusion rate in gtt/min by dividing the number of milliliters needed by the infusion time in minutes and then multiplying by the drip factor of the mini-drip set.
Therefore, the appropriate infusion rate in gtt/min for a pediatric patient is approximately 6.53.