Question

Your patient's recent PTT is 45. According to protocol, you need to increase the Heparin drip by 2 units/kg/hr and administer 30 units/kg IV bolus. You will recheck the PTT in 6 hours. The patient is currently receiving a Heparin drip at 22 units/kg/hr from a bag that reads 25,000 units/250 mL. The patient weighs 129 lbs. How many units will the patient receive as a bolus, and how many units per kilogram per hour will the patient receive based on the new PTT result?

Answer 1

The patient will receive a bolus of approximately 1755 units, and the new Heparin drip rate will be approximately 1404 units per hour based on the patient's weight and the increased dosage according to protocol.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to adjusting a Heparin infusion based on a patient's partial thromboplastin time (PTT) result, and calculating the administered bolus and new infusion rate. First, we need to convert the patient's weight from pounds to kilograms. The patient weighs 129 lbs, which is approximately 58.5 kg (1 kg = 2.20462 lbs).

To calculate the bolus dosage: 30 units/kg multiplied by the patient's weight of 58.5 kg equals approximately 1755 units.

To calculate the new Heparin drip rate, we add 2 units/kg/hr to the current rate of 22 units/kg/hr, resulting in 24 units/kg/hr. Then, the 24 units/kg/hr multiplied by the patient's weight of 58.5 kg gives a new infusion rate of approximately 1404 units/hr.