Question

9. 280 mL of epoprostenol (FLOLAN) is to be infused over 2 hours using a volumetric pump. The drop factor of the blood administration set is 10 gtt/mL.

a. According to the Pulmonary Drug Association, you are to run the blood at 50 mL/h for the first 15 minutes in order to assess for a infusion reaction. How many mLs of epoprostenol would the patient receive in that first 15 minutes?

b. Now that the first 15 minutes has passed without incident, recalculate the flow rate (mL/h) so that the blood transfusion is completed within the original 2 hour time frame.

10. Order reads 280 mL of red blood cells (RBC) is to infuse over 3 hours. After 1 hour, there are 150 mL remaining in the blood bag.

a. At what flow rate (mL/ h) should the IV be running?

b. How many mL should be left in the IV bag after 1 hour? c. Is the IV ahead or behind? d. Recalculate a new flow rate (mL/ h) in order to finish the bag on time.

Answer 1

9. 280 mL of epoprostenol (FLOLAN) is to be infused over 2 hours using a volumetric pump.

Drop factor is 10 gtt/mL.

a.

You have to run the blood at 50 mL/h for the first 15 minutes in order to assess for an infusion reaction.

So,

50ml = 60min x 15min = 12.5ml

Answer - 12.5 ml of epoprostenol

b.

In 15 minutes you infused 12.5 ml

280ml - 12.5ml = 267.5 ml

Remaining 267.5 ml will be infused over 105min

So, $267.5ml\div 105min\times 60min=152.8ml/hr$

Answer - The remaining volume will run in 152.8ml/so that the blood transfusion is completed within the original 2 hour time frame.

10.

The order dose - 280 mL of red blood cells (RBC) is to infuse over 3 hours.

After 1 hour, there are 150 mL remaining in the blood bag.

a.

To complete 280 ml in 3 hours

You need to

$280ml\div 3hr=93.3ml/hr$

Answer - IV should run at 93.3 ml/hr

b.

After 1 hr,

280ml - 93.3ml/hr =186.7ml

Answer - there should be left 186.7 ml.

C.

IV is ahead because instead of 186.7 ml there 150 ml remains.

d.

After 1 hour, there is 150 mL remaining in the blood bag.

Means, reaming 130 ml should be administered over 2 hours.

So,

$130ml\div 2 hrs=65ml/hr$

Answer - Start 65ml/h in order to finish the bag on time