Question

Ntravenous potassium chloride is often given to patients to prevent or treat severe hypokalemia, a condition characterized by low blood potassium levels. a doctor orders that a patient must be delivered 17 meq of kcl in normal saline. how much kcl must be added if the kcl is available in a concentration of 2.0 meq/ml?

Answer 1

A doctor has prescribed 17 mEq of KCl to be delivered intravenously for hypokalemia. The available KCl solution has a concentration of 2.0 mEq/mL. By performing a simple calculation, it is determined that 8.5 mL of the KCl solution is needed to achieve the ordered dose.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject in question pertains to the calculation of the appropriate volume of a potassium chloride (KCl) solution to be administered intravenously for a patient with hypokalemia. A doctor has ordered that a patient must receive an intravenous delivery of 17 mEq of KCl in normal saline.

The solution of KCl is available in a concentration of 2.0 mEq/mL. To find the volume needed to provide 17 mEq of KCl, we use a simple proportion:

Volume (mL) = Desired mEq / Concentration (mEq/mL)

Substituting the given values:

Volume (mL) = 17 mEq / 2.0 mEq/mL

Volume (mL) = 8.5 mL of KCl

Therefore, to prepare the IV delivery, a medical professional must measure 8.5 mL of the 2.0 mEq/mL KCl solution to ensure the patient receives the correct dose of 17 mEq.