Final answer:
To administer the correct dopamine infusion at a dose of 10 mcg/kg/min to a 75 kg patient using a solution of 800 mg in 500 mL, a micro-drip set would be adjusted to an approximate drip rate of 28 drops per minute.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question deals with calculating the drip rate for a dopamine infusion for a cardiac patient. The ordered dose is 10 mcg/kg/min for a 75 kg patient, using a dopamine mixture of 800 mg in 500 mL normal saline. With a micro-drip tubing set, which typically delivers 60 drops per mL, we calculate the drops per minute (gtts/min) required to deliver the medication.
First, we calculate the dopamine dosage in mcg/min:
- Dosage = 10 mcg/kg/min * 75 kg = 750 mcg/min
Now, we convert the total amount of dopamine in the IV bag to mcg:
- Total Dopamine = 800 mg * 1000 mcg/mg = 800,000 mcg
We determine how many mcg are in each mL of the IV solution:
- mcg per mL = Total Dopamine / Total Volume = 800,000 mcg / 500 mL = 1600 mcg/mL
Now find how many mL/min we need to administer the correct dose:
- mL/min = Dosage / mcg per mL = 750 mcg/min / 1600 mcg/mL = 0.46875 mL/min
Finally, we calculate drops per minute using the micro-drip factor:
- gtts/min = mL/min * 60 gtts/mL = 0.46875 mL/min * 60 gtts/mL = 28.125 gtts/min
When we round this number to the nearest whole number, the answer is 28 gtts/min, which corresponds to option A).