Question

What drip rate would you use to deliver 10mcg/kg/min of dopamine (0.2mg/mL) to a 22 lb dog using the microdrip (60 gtt/mL) administration set?

Answer 1

Your 65 kg patient has dopamine ordered at 6 mcg/kg/min. ... Do you need to convert your dose from mg to mcg? mcg to mg? grams to mcg? ... 6 (rate) x 65 (pt weight) x 60 (minutes/hr) = 23400 = 14.6; round to 15; set rate at 15 mL/ ... 0.4 (ordered amt of drug) x 80 (pt weight) x 60 (min/hr) = 9.6 mL/hour; round to 10 mL/hour