Titration drips (mcg/kg/min)
Critical care drips use mcg for each kilogram for each minute. Find the pump rate in mL/h from the weight and the bag.
For practice only. Not for clinical use. The drug names and numbers are made up. Always follow your school's and your facility's rules.
Practice problem
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The order is Quorvane 13 mcg/min IV. The bag has 8 mg in 250 mL. At what rate do you set the pump, in mL/h?
Round to the nearest tenth.
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How to solve it
Concentration in mcg/mL equals the mg in the bag times 1,000, divided by the mL in the bag. Rate in mL/h equals the dose in mcg/kg/min times the weight in kg times 60, divided by the concentration.
Worked example
The order is Calvorin 2 mcg/kg/min IV. The bag has 50 mg of Calvorin in 250 mL. The patient weighs 104.4 kg. At what rate do you set the pump, in mL/h? Do not round until the last step.
Solution
- Strength: 50 mg × 1,000 = 50,000 mcg; 50,000 mcg ÷ 250 mL = 200 mcg/mL.
- Dose: 2 mcg/kg/min × 104.4 kg = 208.8 mcg/min; × 60 = 12,528 mcg/h.
- 12,528 mcg/h ÷ 200 mcg/mL = 62.64 mL/h, rounded to 62.6 mL/h.
Formula: mL/h = (mcg/kg/min × kg × 60) ÷ mcg per mL
Answer: 62.6 mL/h
Questions
What does mcg/kg/min mean?
It means micrograms of drug for each kilogram of body weight for each minute.
How do I find the concentration in mcg/mL?
Change the mg in the bag to mcg: multiply by 1,000. Then divide by the mL in the bag.
How do I find the pump rate in mL/h?
Multiply the dose by the weight in kg. Multiply by 60 to get mcg/h. Then divide by the concentration in mcg/mL.
What does titrate mean?
To titrate is to change the dose step by step. You do it to reach the effect that the order asks for.