IV Drip Setting/

IV Drip Calculation
Identify the given device?
Ans: IV infusion Set

What are the uses of given device?

Ans: Administration of parenteral fluids
and medications as well as blood
transfusion, giving contrast media for
radiography procedures
Basic Formulae to remember:

𝑚𝐿 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝐿)
• 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 =
ℎ𝑟 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 (ℎ)

𝑚𝐿 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝐿) 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝐿)

• 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 = =
𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝑖𝑛) 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑛 ×60
Que. 1 A patient of diarrhea was prescribe to infuse 1 liter of normal saline
over 8 hour. Calculate rate of infusion of solution in mL/h?

Ans:
Given: Volume to be infused: 1 liter = 1 × 1000 = 1000 mL
Time for infusion = 8 h

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝐿)
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 =
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 (ℎ)

1000
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 = = 125
8
Thus rate of infusion of normal saline is 125 mL/h.
Que. 2 A patient of diarrhea was prescribed to infuse 1 liter of normal saline
over 8 hour. Calculate rate of infusion of solution in mL/min?

Ans:
Given: Volume to be infused: 1 liter = 1 × 1000 = 1000 mL
Time for infusion = 8 h = 8 × 60 = 480 min.

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝐿)
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 =
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝑖𝑛)

1000
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 = = 2.08
480
Thus rate of infusion of normal saline is 2 mL/min.
Basic Formulae to remember:

𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑠 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝐿)

• 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑖𝑛
= 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝑖𝑛)
× 15
−−−− −𝑖𝑓 𝑚𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑝 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑢𝑠𝑒

𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑠 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝐿)

• 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑖𝑛
= 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝑖𝑛)
× 60
−−−− −𝑖𝑓 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑝 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑢𝑠𝑒
Que. 3 A patient was prescribed to infuse 1 liter of normal saline over 8 hour
using macro drip set. Calculate rate of infusion of solution in number of
drops per min?

Ans:
Given: Volume to be infused: 1 liter = 1 × 1000 = 1000 mL
Time for infusion = 8 h = 8 × 60 = 480 min.

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝐿)
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 = × 15
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝑖𝑛)

1000
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 = × 15 = 2.08 × 15 = 31.25
480
Thus rate of infusion of normal saline using macro drip set is 31 drops/min.
Que. 4 A patient of was prescribed to infuse 250 mL of normal saline over 8
hour using micro drip set. Calculate rate of infusion of solution in number of
drops per min?

Ans:
Given: Volume to be infused: 250 mL
Time for infusion = 8 h = 8 × 60 = 480 min.

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝐿)
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 = × 60
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝑖𝑛)

250
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 = × 60 = 0.52 × 60 = 31.2
480
Thus rate of infusion of normal saline using micro drip set is 31 drops/min.
Basic Formulae to remember:

𝑚𝑔
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 ( )
𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 = 𝑚𝑔 × 15
𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 ( )
𝑚𝐿

−−−− −𝑖𝑓 𝑚𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑝 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑢𝑠𝑒

𝑚𝑔
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 ( )
𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 = 𝑚𝑔 × 60
𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 ( )
𝑚𝐿

−−−− −𝑖𝑓 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑝 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑢𝑠𝑒

Que. 5 An adult female of 32 years weighing 60kg came to hospital with labor pain but labor is not
progressing. History reveals that she has 39 weeks pregnancy. It has been decided to induce a labor
by oxytocin at 2mIU/minute using 500 mL of normal saline. Set up Oxytocin drip for this patient
using micro drip set. (Oxytocin available as 5 IU/mL ampoule).

Ans: Oxytocin is available as 5 IU/mL as ampoule and rate of infusion of oxytocin is 2 mIU/min.
To prepare IV infusion solution, 5 IU of oxytocin is mixed with 500 mL of NS. Thus strength of
solution is 5 IU/500 mL.
Concentration of oxytocin in NS = 5/500 = 0.01 IU/mL = 0.01 × 1000 = 10 mIU/mL
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑠
Drip rate or drops/min using micro drip = × 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 ( )
𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝐿

2
Drip rate or drops/min using micro drip = × 60
10

Drip rate or drops/min using micro drip = 12 drops/min.

Thus, oxytocin is infused at 12 drops/minute.
Que. 6 An adult male patient of 40 years weighing 56 kg come to hospital. He was diagnosed to be
suffering from skin and soft tissue infections and found to be methicillin resistant and so started
vancomycin in a dose of 1 g in 250 mL 5 % Dextrose and infused over 1 hour. Vancomycin is
available as 500 mg powder need to be reconstituted with 10 mL sterile water to yield 50 mg/mL.
Calculate rate of infusion (number of drops per minute) of vancomycin using macro drip set

Ans: Given: Weight of patient = 56 kg, Time for infusion = 1 h = 1× 60 = 60 min.

Vancomycin available as powder 500 mg needs to be reconstituted with 10 mL sterile water. For 1
gm = 1000 mg of azithromycin, 2 vials of azithromycin should be reconstituted. This is to be
mixed in 250 mL of 5 % dextrose. Therefore, total volume of solution is 250 mL.
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑚𝐿 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑠
Drip rate (drops/min) = × 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 ( )
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑒 (𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒) 𝑚𝐿

250
Drip rate (drops/min) = × 15
60
Drip rate (drops/min) = 62.5 ≈ 62 drops/min

Thus, vancomycin should be infused at 62 drops/minute.

Que. 8 An adult male patient of 40 years weighing 60 kg came to hospital emergency with
hypovolemic shock with oliguria. It is decided to administer dopamine at a rate of 2 mcg/kg/min.
Dopamine is available as 40 mg/mL in 5 mL ampoule and mixed with 500 mL of 5 % dextrose for
infusion. Calculate number of drops of dopamine per minute to be infused using micro drip set.

Ans: Weight of patient: 60 kg.

Rate of infusion = 2 mcg/kg/min = 2 × 60 = 120 mcg/min
Availability: 40 mg dopamine in 1 mL in 5 mL ampoule. In 5 mL, 40 × 5 = 200 mg dopamine is
present. 200 mg dopamine is mixed with 500 mL of 5 % dextrose.
200 2
Therefore, strength of solution is = = = 0.4 𝑚𝑔/𝑚𝐿 = 0.4 × 1000 mcg/mL = 400 mcg/mL.
500 5
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 120
Drip rate OR number of drops/min using micro drip = × 60 = × 60 = 18.
𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 400

Thus, Dopamine is infused at 18 drops per minute.

Que. 9 The physician wants to start an IV Heparin drip at 18 units/kg/h and to administer a loading
bolus dose of 30 units/kg IV before initiation of the drip. You’re supplied with a Heparin bag that
reads 25,000 units/500 mL. The patient weighs 78 kgs. What is the flow rate you will set the IV
pump at (mL/h), and how many units will be administered for the IV bolus?

Ans: Given: Weight of patient = 78 kg. Heparin is available as 25,000 Units/500 mL = 50

units/mL.
Dose of heparin for IV drip = 18 units/kg/h = 18× 78 = 1404 Units/h.
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 1404 𝑚𝐿
Rate of infusion = 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 50
= 28.08
ℎ

Thus, rate of heparin IV drip is 28 drops/min.

Dose of heparin for loading dose = 30 units/kg = 30 × 78 = 2340 units/h. Thus, desired
dose for bolus is 2340 units.
Que. 10 A patient of hypokalemia was prescribed KCl 20 mEq intravenously to be added to the
1000 mL 0.45 % normal saline. KCl is available as 40 mEq/20 mL vial. Calculate how many mL
of KCl to be added to normal saline? Calculate IV drip rate (number of drops/minute) using
macrodrip if infusion last for 12 hours?

Ans: Given: KCl is available as vial in a strength 40 mEq/20 mL .

Dose of drug to be given D
Thus, Desired Amount X = × Quantity Q
Amount on hand H
20
Desired Amount = × 20 = 10 mL.
40
Thus, 10 mL of KCL is added to 0.45 % normal saline.
Volume to be infused = 1000 mL over 12 h = 12 × 60 = 720 minutes
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝐿) 1000
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 = × 15 = × 15 =20.83 = 21 drops per minute
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝑖𝑛) 720

Thus, rate of infusion is 21 drops per minute using macro drip.

ORS PREPARATION
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS (READ FROM THE BOOK/ POWERPOINT PRESENTATION ALSO
PROVIDED PREVIOUSLY)

1. What is ORS?
10. Super ORS.
2. What is New Formula ORS?
11. Home made ORS: Preparation
3. Composition of ORS.
12. Role of zinc in ORS
4. Role of each ingredient in ORS.
13. Non-diarrheal uses of ORS
5. How will you prepare oral rehydration
14. Contraindications of ORS
solution from ORS packet?
6. Uses of ORS
7. Advantages of ORS
8. Disadvantages of ORS.
9. How will you administer ORS?