Question

I have an order to administer nitroglycerin 10mcg/min continuous infusion. The bottle of nitroglycerin available is 50mg in 250 ml of D5W. At what rate would you set the IV pump to infuse at

Answer 1

The IV pump infusion rate = 0.05ml per minute

Explanation:

available concentration = 50 mg per 250 ml of D5W

This means that

250 ml of D5W contains 50 mg

note that

mg = milligram

mcg = microgram

250 ml = 50mg

1ml = 50/250 mg

1ml = 0.2mg

Next, let us convert from milligram (mg) to microgam (mcg) since the unit of administration is in mcg.

1 mg = 1000 mcg

∴ 0.2 mg = 1000 × 0.2

= 200mcg

Therefore the available concentration 200mcg/ml

required concentration/min = 10

since 1 ml = 200mcg

1 mcg = (1 ÷ 200) ml

1 mcg = 0.005 ml

∴ 10 mcg = 0.005 × 10 = 0.05 ml

10 mcg is contained in 0.05 ml of the solution

Therefore, the IV pump infusion rate = 0.05ml per minute