Question

A patient requiring mechanical ventilation is agitated. Propofol is infusing at 7 mL/h. The patient's weight is 85 kg. The propofol concentration is 15 mg/mL. At

what rate, in micrograms per kilogram per minute, is the propofol infusing? mcg/kg/min

Answer 1

To calculate the rate at which propofol is infusing in micrograms per kilogram per minute, you need to convert the given propofol concentration from milligrams per milliliter to micrograms per kilogram.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the rate at which propofol is infusing in micrograms per kilogram per minute, you need to convert the given propofol concentration from milligrams per milliliter to micrograms per kilogram.

Here is the step-by-step calculation:

Convert the patient's weight from kilograms to grams:

85 kg × 1000 g/kg = 85000 g.

Calculate the total amount of propofol infusing per hour:

7 mL/h × 15 mg/mL = 105 mg/h.

Convert the total amount of propofol infusing per hour to micrograms per minute:

105 mg/h × 1000 μg/mg ÷ 60 min/h = 1750 μg/min.

Calculate the propofol infusion rate per kilogram of body weight:

1750 μg/min ÷ 85000 g = 0.0206 μg/g-min.

Convert the propofol infusion rate from grams to kilograms:

0.0206 μg/g-min × 1000 mg/g ÷ 1000 μg/μg = 0.0206 μg/kg-min.

Therefore, the propofol is infusing at a rate of 0.0206 micrograms per kilogram per minute.