Final answer:
To calculate the fluid maintenance for a patient weighing 175 lbs (79.38 kg), use the 4-2-1 rule, leading to a maintenance rate of approximately 119.38 mL/hour.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the fluid maintenance for a patient who weighs 175 lbs, we first convert the patient's weight into kilograms, knowing that 1 lb equals 0.453592 kg. Thus, 175 lbs is approximately 79.38 kg.
The standard formula for fluid maintenance is often based on an approach called the "4-2-1" rule, which is:
- 4 mL/kg for the first 10 kg of body weight,
- 2 mL/kg for the next 10 kg of body weight, and,
- 1 mL/kg for the remaining body weight above 20 kg.
Applying this rule to a 79.38 kg patient:
- For the first 10 kg: 10 kg × 4 mL/kg = 40 mL/hour,
- For the next 10 kg: 10 kg × 2 mL/kg = 20 mL/hour,
- For the remaining 59.38 kg: 59.38 kg × 1 mL/kg = 59.38 mL/hour.
Adding these up gives us a total of 119.38 mL/hour, which is the fluid maintenance rate for the patient which is approximately 119.38 mL/hour.