Question

A patient is prescribed dobutamine at 2 micrograms/kg/min. The patient weighs 60 kg. You have prepared 200 mg in 50 mL infusion. What rate will you set the infusion pump in mL/hr? Choose the correct option and select Save Answer. A. 0.9 mL/hr B. 1.2 mL/hr C. 1.5 mL/hr D. 1.8 mL/hr E. 2.0 mL/hr Save Answer​

Answer 1

The correct infusion pump rate for a patient prescribed dobutamine at 2 micrograms/kg/min, weighing 60 kg, with a prepared infusion of 200 mg in 50 mL, is 1.8 mL/hr.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the rate at which the infusion pump should be set in mL/hr, we need to consider the patient's weight and the prescribed dose of dobutamine.

The patient weighs 60 kg and the prescribed dose is 2 micrograms/kg/min.

This means the total dose per minute is 2 micrograms/kg/min × 60 kg = 120 micrograms/min.

Since 1 milligram (mg) equals 1000 micrograms (μg), we need to convert 120 μg into milligrams which gives us 0.12 mg/min.

Now, we have prepared a solution of 200 mg in 50 mL, so there is 4 mg of dobutamine in each mL (200 mg ÷ 50 mL = 4 mg/mL).

To find the infusion rate, we need to determine how many mL contains 0.12 mg of dobutamine, which is done by dividing the dose in mg by the concentration of the dobutamine solution: 0.12 mg ÷ 4 mg/mL = 0.03 mL/min.

To convert this into mL/hr, we multiply it by 60 minutes: 0.03 mL/min × 60 min/hr = 1.8 mL/hr.

Thus, the correct infusion rate for this patient on the infusion pump is 1.8 mL/hr.