Question

(a.) What is the maximum dose of heparin (in cc) a newborn weighing 4.36 pounds can receive in a day? (Note: 1 Unit Heparin = 0.01 mL Heparin) (7 pts.)

(b.) A nurse beginning her shift in the NICU goes to flush the central venous lines of two twin girls (each weighing 4.36 Ibs. ) that were born that day. When the nurse checks the their charts, she sees that the physician ordered a 2.0mL I.V. push of Heparin Solution every 4 hours to flush the infants lines. If the concentration of the Heparin Solution ordered up from the pharmacy is 10.0 Units Heparin per 1.0mL Solution, is the prescribed dosage acceptable for a 4.36 pound infant? Why or why not? Include calculations to justify your answer. (Note: 1 Unit Heparin = 0.01mL Heparin) (6 pts.)

Answer 1

a. Maximum heparin dose in neonates is 75 units/ kg

4.36 pounds=2 kg

so in given question ,max dose will be 75*2= 150 units

1 unit=.01 ml of .01 cc

therefore 150 units will be in 150*0.01= 1.5 ml

b. Heparin lock flush recommended is 40 units per kg

so for 2 kg baby , dose will be 80units

in question, 1ml=10 units

prescribed dose is 2ml=20 units q 4 hrly so 120 units per day

So for a 2 kg baby 120 units/ day is more than recommended 80 units

therefore prescribed dose is not acceptable.