EASY DRUG CALCULATION IN 50 ML SYRINGE PUMP

If you load 3mg/kg of DOPAMINE / DOBUTAMINE / GTN / MILRINONE in a 50 ml syringe, then infusion @ 1 ml/hr of any of these drug will result in delivery of 1 μg/kg/min of the same

If you load 0.3 mg/kg of ADRENALINE / NOR ADRENALINE / ISOPRENALINE in a 50 ml syringe then infusion @ 1 ml/hr of any of these drug will result in delivery of  0.1 μg/kg/min of the same

If you load 3units/kg of VASOPRESSIN in a 50 ml syringe, then infusion @ 1 ml/hr of any of these drug will result in delivery of 0.001 units/kg/min of the same

e.g. If your patient weighs 60 kg, and you want to start Dopamine @ 5μg/kg/min; you load 3x60=180mg of Dopamine and dilute it to 50 ml in a 50ml syringe. Now if u start the infusion @1ml/hr, it will deliver 1μg/kg/min of Dopamine. We want it to run @ 5μg/kg/min. So keep it at 5ml/hr.

μg/kg/min to mL/hr and vice versa

-->To convert μg/kg/min  to mL/hr
• rate (mL/hr) =    desired rate (in μg/kg/min) x 60 x wt (kg)  
                                         drug concentration (μg/mL)
 eg Dopamine @ 5 μg/kg/min in a 40 kg patient using Dopamine 400 μg/mL
 rate (mL/hr) = 5 x 60 x 40 / 400 = 30 mL/hr
-->To convert mL/hr to μg/kg/min:
• rate (μg/kg/min) =   infusion rate (mL/hr) x drug concentration (μg/mL) 
                                                      60 x wt (kg)
 eg Dopamine @ 30 mL/hr in a 40 kg patient using Dopamine 400 μg/mL
• rate (μg/kg/min) = 30 x 400 / 60 x 40 = 5 μg/kg/min