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:

1. Convert the patient's weight from pounds to kilograms by dividing by 2.205.
2. Calculate the appropriate dose of the medication by multiplying the patient's weight (in kilograms) by the ordered dose per kilogram.
3. Calculate the number of milliliters of medication needed by dividing the dose (in milligrams) by the concentration of the medication.
4. 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.