iv flow rates. introduction the pharmacy staff is responsible for calculating the flow rate of a...
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IV FLOW RATESIV FLOW RATES
INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION• The pharmacy staff is responsible for
calculating the flow rate of a medication to be administered intravenously.
• This rate is expressed in terms of how many milliliters per hour or drops per minute a patient should receive.
• It can also be expressed in terms of how much IV fluid should be prepared per shift or per day.
• Often referred to as the infusion rate or rate of infusion.
DURATION OF THERAPYDURATION OF THERAPY• The duration of therapy may be calculated using the
following formula:
Duration of therapy =
Volume of fluid or amount of drug to be infused
Flow rate
*Flow rate = ml/hr*When calculating the duration of therapy,
always round your answer down to the whole hour.
EXAMPLE PROBLEMEXAMPLE PROBLEMDURATION OF THERAPYDURATION OF THERAPY
A 1 L IV is running at 125 mL/hour. How often will you send up a new bag?
X hours = 1000 mL
125 mL/hour
= 8 hours
ANOTHER EXAMPLE PROBLEMANOTHER EXAMPLE PROBLEMDURATION OF THERAPYDURATION OF THERAPY
If an IV is running at 150 mL/hour and three 1 L bags are sent to the floor, how long will these bags last?
X hours = the time the 3 bags will last
X hours = 3000 mL
150 mL/hour
= 20 hours
FLOW RATEFLOW RATEWhen an order specifies a volume or amount of
drug to be given over a specific period of time, the flow rate (mL/hr) can be calculated using the following formula:
Flow rate =
Volume of fluid or amount of drug to be infused
Duration of therapy
EXAMPLE PROBLEM #1EXAMPLE PROBLEM #1FLOW RATEFLOW RATE
The following order is sent to the IV room:
Medication: Solu-Cortef 300 mg
Fluid volume: 300 mL
Time of infusion: 4 hours
What volume of fluid is given per hour, and what amount of drug is given per hour?
TO SOLVE PROBLEM…….TO SOLVE PROBLEM…….
FIRST: Determine the volume of fluid given per hour.
300 mL / 4 hours = 75 mL/hour
SECOND: Calculate the amount of drug given per hour.
300 mg / 4 hours = 75 mg/hour
EXAMPLE PROBLEM #2EXAMPLE PROBLEM #2FLOW RATEFLOW RATE
The following order is sent to the IV room.
Medication: Cefazolin 500 mg
Fluid volume: 50 mL
Time of infusion: ½ hour
What volume of fluid is given per hour, and what amount of drug is given per hour?
TO SOLVE PROBLEM…….TO SOLVE PROBLEM…….
FIRST: Determine the volume of fluid given per hour.
50 mL / 0.5 hours = 100 mL/hour
SECOND: Calculate the amount of drug given per hour.
500 mg / 0.5 hours = 1000 mg/hour
EXAMPLE PROBLEM #3EXAMPLE PROBLEM #3FLOW RATEFLOW RATE
A 500ml IV bag is administered over 4 hours. What is the flow rate?
TO SOLVE:
mL/hr = 500mL/4hr
X = 500/4 = 125
X = 125mL/hr
EXAMPLE PROBLEM #4EXAMPLE PROBLEM #4FLOW RATEFLOW RATE
DROP SETSDROP SETS
• Pharmacy staff and the nursing staff are responsible for calculating the rate of administration for IV fluids in a drops per minute rate (expressed gtt/min).
• The abbreviation gtt comes from the Latin word guttae, which means “drops.”
• An IV set is identified by the number of drops it takes to make 1 mL. This calibration is referred to as a drop set or drip set.
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DROP SETSDROP SETS• IV sets are designed to administer medication at different rates.• The most common sets are:
• 10, or 10 gtt/mL• 15, or 15 gtt/mL• 20, or 20 gtt/mL• 60, or 60 gtt/mL
(AKA mini drip set)
DROP SETSDROP SETS• The drop sizes for the 10,15,
and 20 calibrations produce macrodrops.
• The 60 calibration produces microdrops. • The 60 gtt/mL is called a
mini-drip set.
INFUSION RATESINFUSION RATESThe infusion rate, measured in drops per minute, is calculated as follows :
x gtt/min = Flow Rate x Drop size
60min/1hr
Flow Rate = ml/hr
Drop size = gtt/ml
(Round down to a whole drop when a drop per minute calculation results in a partial drop)
EXAMPLE PROBLEM #1EXAMPLE PROBLEM #1INFUSION RATEINFUSION RATE
If an IV is running at 60 mL/hr, what is the rate in drops per minute using a 15 drop set?
x gtt/min = (60 mL/1 hour) x (15 gtt/mL)
60 min/hour
= 15 gtt/min
EXAMPLE PROBLEM #2EXAMPLE PROBLEM #2INFUSION RATEINFUSION RATE
You have D5W infusing at 80ml/hr.
What is the infusion rate in gtt/min if there are 30gtts/ml?
x gtt/min = (80 mL/1 hour) x (30 gtt/mL) = 40 gtt/min
60 min/hour
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