Question

A client with hypertension who weighs 72.4 kg is receiving an infusion of nitroprusside (Nipride) 50 mg in D5W 250 ml at 75 ml/hour. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)

Answer 1

To calculate the nitroprusside (Nipride) infusion rate, we determined the mcg/minute by converting the total mg to mcg and adjusting for the infusion rate. Then we divided that by the client's weight to get the rate of 3.5 mcg/kg/minute.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the amount of nitroprusside (Nipride) the client is receiving in micrograms per kilogram per minute (mcg/kg/minute), we first need to determine the infusion rate in mcg/minute. Then we'll divide that by the client's weight in kg.

Step 1: Calculate the infusion rate in mcg/minute

• Total amount of Nipride in the infusion: 50 mg
• Convert 50 mg to mcg: 50 mg x 1000 mcg/mg = 50000 mcg
• Infusion rate: 75 ml/hour. To find out how much is infused per minute, we convert hours to minutes: 75 ml/hour x 1 hour/60 minutes = 1.25 ml/minute
• Since 50000 mcg is in 250 ml, we find the mcg per 1 ml and then per 1.25 ml: (50000 mcg/250 ml) x 1.25 ml = 250 mcg/minute

Step 2: Calculate mcg/kg/minute

• Client's weight: 72.4 kg
• Divide the mcg/minute rate by the client's weight: 250 mcg/minute ÷ 72.4 kg = 3.45 mcg/kg/minute
• Round to the nearest tenth: 3.5 mcg/kg/minute

The client is receiving 3.5 mcg/kg/minute of nitroprusside.

Answer 2

To solve this problem it is necessary to simply apply the concepts related to cross-multiply and proportion between units.

Let's start first by relating the amount of dose needed to be supplied per hour, in other words,

The infusion of 250ml should be supplied at a rate of 75ml / hour, so what amount x of mg hour should be supplied with 50Mg.

`(x)/(75ml/hour) \rightarrow (50mg)/(250ml)`

`x \rightarrow (50mg*75ml/hour)/(250ml)`

`x \rightarrow (3750mg)/(250hour)`

`x \rightarrow 15(mg)/(hour)`

Converting to mcg units we know that 1mg is equal to 1000mcg and that 1 hour contains 60 min, therefore

`x \rightarrow 15(mg)/(hour)`

`x \rightarrow 15(mg)/(hour)((1000mcg)/(1mg))((1hour)/(60min))`

`x \rightarrow 250mcg/min`

The dose should be distributed per kilogram of the patient so if the patient weighs 72.4kg,

`Dose = (250mcg/min)/(72.4kg)`

`Dose = 3.5 (mcg/min)/(kg)`

Therefore the client will receive 3.5mcg/kg/min.