Question

A physician orders a Heparin drip at 8.0 units per kg of body weight per hour via IV pump. The patient weighs 237lb. The IV is available at 25,000 units of Heparin in exactly 500 mL of IV fluid. Calculate the flow rate in mL/hr that should be set for the IV pump.

Answer 1

The flow rate of the IV pump should be 17.06mL/hr.

1st) We need to calculate the patient's weight knowing that 1 lb is equal to 0.45 kg:

The patient weighs 106.65 kg.

2nd) If the patient needs a drip at 8.0 units per kg of body weight, we have to calculate the units for the patient:

`\begin{gathered} 1\text{ kg - 8.0 units} \\ 106.65\text{ kg - x=}\frac{106.65\text{ kg}\cdot\text{8.0 units}}{1\text{ kg }} \\ \\ x=853.2\text{units} \end{gathered}`

So, the patient needs 853.2 units per hour.

3rd) To calculate the flow rate of the IV pump, we need to know the mL equivalent to 853.2 units:

`\begin{gathered} 25,000\text{ units - 500mL} \\ 853.2\text{ units - x=}\frac{853.2\text{ units}\cdot\text{500mL}}{25,000\text{ units}} \\ \\ x=17.06mL \end{gathered}`

So, the flow rate of the IV pump should be 17.06mL/hr.