Worked example

Weight-based IV infusion — practice problem 11

A patient weighing 80 kg has dopamine 400 mg in 250 mL. The prescriber orders 3 mcg/kg/min.

Weight80 kg

Ordered rate3 mcg/kg/min

Bag400 mg in 250 mL

What pump rate (mL/hr) delivers this order?

Answer: 9 mL/hr

Step-by-step solution

1. Find the bag concentration in mcg/mL

400 mg × ( 1000 mcg ÷ 1 mg ) ÷ 250 mL

= 1600 mcg/mL

2. Dose per minute: multiply the rate by the patient's weight

3 mcg/kg/min × 80 kg

= 240 mcg/min

3. Convert to mcg per hour

240 mcg/min × ( 60 min ÷ 1 hr )

= 14400 mcg/hr

4. Divide by concentration so mcg cancels, leaving mL/hr

14400 mcg/hr × ( 1 mL ÷ 1600 mcg )

= 9 mL/hr