Question

You receive an order to start heparin drip at 18 units a person weighing 75 kg . Heparin comes in 500ml with 25,000 units . What is the starting rate of infusion.

Answer 1

To calculate the starting rate of the heparin infusion, you can use the following formula:

Starting rate (mL/hour) = (Desired dose in units) / (Heparin concentration in units per mL)

In this case:

The desired dose is 18 units per kg for a person weighing 75 kg.

The heparin concentration is 25,000 units per 500 mL.

First, calculate the total desired dose:

Desired dose = 18 units/kg * 75 kg = 1350 units

Now, calculate the starting rate of infusion:

Starting rate (mL/hour) = 1350 units / (25,000 units / 500 mL)

Starting rate (mL/hour) = 1350 units / 50 units/mL

Starting rate (mL/hour) = 27 mL/hour

So, the starting rate of the heparin infusion is 27 mL per hour.