Drip Calculations

Jeremy Maddux, NREMTP

CALCULATING DRIP RATES
Calculating Drops Per Minute
gtts/min = volume to be infused gttsm! of administration set
total time in minutes
E!amples"
"ou are ordered to infuse #$$ cc of N% over & 'ours( )sing a *# gttsm!
administration set +'at drip rate +ould you use,
gtts/min = #$$ m! *# gttsm! = #$%&& gtts/min
*-$ minutes
. nurse informs you t'at an /0 of N% +as started & 'ours ago and t'at #$$ m!
'ave infused into t'e patient( T'e fluid is infusing t'roug' a macrodrop
administration set 1*$ gttsm!2( 3'at is t'e rate of t'e /0,
Rate = #$$ m! *$ gttsm! = '(%(( gtts/min
*-$ minutes
"ou are about to transfer a patient t'at 'as been on an /0 of N% for & 'ours
running at 4- gttsmin on a macrodrop administration set 1*$ gttsmin2( 5o+
muc' fluid 'as t'is patient received,
)olume = 4- gttsmin = '%* mL/+r 4(- m!'r *-$ min = ,-# mL
*$ gttsm!
Calculating Solution Concentration
mg in solution .i/i.e. 01 m! in solution
E!ample"
To prepare your lidocaine infusion you 'ave mixed 4 grams of lidocaine into #$$
m! of D#3( 5o+ muc' lidocaine is in * m! of t'is solution,
4$$$ mg = # mg/mL
#$$ m!
To prepare your dopamine infusion you 'ave mixed -$$ mg of dopamine into #$$
m! of D#3( 5o+ muc' dopamine is in * m! of t'is solution,
-$$ mg = $%& mg *(6 mg *$$$ = $&-- mcg/mL
#$$ m!
Revised January 47, 4$$* *
Drip Calculations
Jeremy Maddux, NREMTP
Calculating mg/min 2R Calculating mcg/min 3Li.ocaine / Norepinep+rine4
gtts/min = volume on 'and drip factor desired dose
dosage on 'and
E!ample"
. p'ysician +ants you to administer 4 mg per minute of lidocaine to a patient( To
prepare t'e infusion you mix 4 grams of lidocaine in an /0 bag containing #$$ m!
of D#3( "ou +ill use a microdrop administration set 16$ gttsm!2( Calculate t'e
infusion rate(
gtts/min = #$$ m! 6$ gttsm! 4 mg = 5- gtts/min
4$$$ mg
Calculating mcg/6g/min
gtts/min = desired dose +eig't 18g2 drip factor
solution concentration
E!ample"
. p'ysician +ants you to administer # mcg8gmin of dopamine to a patient
+eig'ing -# 8g( To prepare t'e infusion you mix -$$ mg of dopamine in #$$ m!
of D#3 1*6$$ mcgm!2( "ou +ill use a macrodrop administration set 16$
gttsm!2( Calculate t'e infusion rate(
gtts/min = # mcg -# 8g 6$ gttsm! = $,%7# gtts/min
*6$$ mcg
)sing t'e same information from t'e above patient calculate t'e same infusion
using a macrodrop administration set 1*# gttsm!2(
gtts/min = # mcg -# 8g *# gttsm! = 5%7* gtts/min
*6$$ mcg
Magic Num0er
solution concentration .i/i.e. 01 patient +eig't 18g2 .i/i.e. 01 6$ minutes = MN
magic number m!'r = mcg/min
E!ample"
"ou are assuming care of a patient t'at is on dopamine( T'e nurse tells you t'at
t'e p'ysician ordered 'er to run t'e infusion at 4# m!'r( %'e is not sure 'o+
many mcg8gmin t'e patient is on( T'e patient +eig's 9$ 8g and t'e dopamine
'as a solution concentration of *6$$ mcgm!( 5o+ many mcg8gmin is t'e
patient on,
*6$$ mcg = $(%(( *7(77 = -%'7& $(496 4# m!'r = (%#$ mcg/6g/min
9$ 8g 6$ min
Revised January 47, 4$$* 4