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IV Infusion Formula:
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IV infusion calculation determines the appropriate flow rate for intravenous medications, ensuring patients receive the correct dosage over a specific time period. This is critical for medications with narrow therapeutic windows.
The calculator uses the IV infusion formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates how many milliliters per hour need to be infused to deliver the prescribed dose based on patient weight and medication concentration.
Details: Precise IV infusion rates are essential for patient safety, therapeutic effectiveness, and avoiding medication errors, especially for critical care medications like vasopressors, inotropes, and anticoagulants.
Tips: Enter the prescribed dose in mcg/kg/min, patient weight in kg, and medication concentration in mcg/mL. All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: Why is weight included in the calculation?
A: Many IV medications are dosed based on body weight to ensure appropriate dosing for different sized patients.
Q2: What if my medication concentration is in mg/mL instead of mcg/mL?
A: Convert mg to mcg by multiplying by 1000 (1 mg = 1000 mcg) before entering the value.
Q3: How often should infusion rates be verified?
A: Infusion rates should be verified at the beginning of each shift, when concentrations change, and whenever the patient's condition changes significantly.
Q4: Are there safety checks for critical medications?
A: Yes, many institutions require independent double-checks for high-alert medications and use smart pump technology with dose error reduction systems.
Q5: What factors might require adjustment of infusion rates?
A: Changes in patient weight, renal/hepatic function, clinical response, and laboratory values may require infusion rate adjustments.