Final answer:
B) 4 ml/hr To determine the infusion rate for a patient who weighs 132 pounds, first convert the weight to kilograms, then calculate the patient's dosage in mcg per minute, convert the dopamine amount from mg to mcg, and find out how many minutes the solution will last. Finally, calculate the infusion rate in mL/hr, which should be approximately 4.5 mL/hr, but rounded to the nearest option given is 4 mL/hr.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the rate at which to program the infusion pump, we have the following information:The patient's weight is 132 pounds, which must be converted to kilograms since the dosage of dopamine is prescribed in mcg/kg/minute. There are 2.2 pounds in one kilogram.The dosage is 5 mcg/kg/minute.The IV solution contains 1600 mg of dopamine in 500 mL of 0.9% normal saline.We need to find out how many mL/hr the infusion pump should deliver.First, convert the patient's weight from pounds to kilograms:132 pounds ÷ 2.2 pounds/kg = 60 kgNext, calculate the patient's dosage in mcg per minute:5 mcg/kg/minute × 60 kg = 300 mcg/minuteThen, convert the total amount of dopamine in the IV solution from mg to mcg:1600 mg × 1000 mcg/mg = 1,600,000 mcg.
Now, determine how many minutes the 500 mL of the solution will last at the prescribed dosage:1,600,000 mcg ÷ 300 mcg/minute = 5333.33 minutesFinally, calculate the infusion rate in mL/hr:500 mL ÷ (5333.33 minutes ÷ 60 minutes/hour) = 4.5 mL/hrIn conclusion, the infusion pump should be programmed to deliver 4.5 mL/hr. This result is not an exact match to the options provided (A) 2 mL/hr, (B) 4 mL/hr, (C) 6 mL/hr, or (D) 8 mL/hr. Therefore, it's recommended to consult the prescriber or pharmacy for possible rounding or adjustment, but if rounding is necessary, the closest correct answer from the options given is 4 mL/hr (Option B).