Question

An intravenous infusion contains 5 mg of zoledronic acid (RECLAST ) in 100 mL. If the infusion is to be administered in 15 minutes, how many (a) milligrams of zoledronic acid and (b) milliliters of infusion must be administered per minute? And (c), using a drip set that delivers 20 drops/milliliter, how many drops per minute must be infused?

Answer 1

a) 0.33 mg/min

b) 6.67 mL/min

c) 133.4 drops/min

Step-by-step explanation:

a) The mass flow indicates how much mass is flowing (in this case is being administrated) in a "piece" of time, thus, it's the total mass administrated by the total time:

mf = 5mg/15min

mf = 0.33 mg/min

So, 0.33 mg of the acid will be administrated per minute.

b) Now, we must calculate the volume flow, which is the total volume divided by the time:

Vf = 100mL/15 min

Vf = 6.67 mL/min

So, 6.67 mL of the infusion will be administrated per minute.

c) The drops flow, is the drop delivery ( 20 drops/mL) multiplied by the volume flow:

df = 20drops/mL * 6.67 mL/min

df = 133.4 drops/min

So, it must be infused 133.4 drops per minute.