Get IV And Drug Calculations For Busy Paramedics

To calculate the drops per minute, the drop factor is needed. The formula for calculating the IV flow rate (drip rate) is total volume (in mL) divided by time (in min), multiplied by the drop factor (in gtts/mL), which equals the IV flow rate in gtts/min. Let's try an example.

20 drops per ml (typically for clear fluids) 15 drops per ml (typically for thicker substances, such as blood)

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For an IV setup on a volumetric pump or other electronic infusion device, we use the flow rate measured in mL/h because we can type this amount into the device manually without having to count drops in a drip chamber. Notice that both of these rates measure volume over time.

Two common sizes are: 20 drops per ml (typically for clear fluids) 15 drops per ml (typically for thicker substances, such as blood)

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IV infusion: 1 to 4 mg/ min. Calculation of drip rate: 1 gram/250 ml (ml/hr) = mg/min x 15. Decrease rate by 50% after 24 hours.

Calculating fluid remaining can also be done by calculating the amount of fluid, in milliliters, infused at each hourly point and subtracting that number from the total amount of fluid at the start of the infusion.

The drop rate is 42 drops per minute. The drop factor is 20 drops per ml. If we divide 42 drops per minute by 20 drops per millilitre, we'll find out how many millilitres per minute. 42/20 = 2.1 ml per minute.

The formula for calculating the IV flow rate (drip rate) is total volume (in mL) divided by time (in min), multiplied by the drop factor (in gtts/mL), which equals the IV flow rate in gtts/min. Let's try an example. The provider has ordered 1,000 mL Lactated Ringers to infuse over 8 hours.