(5) The order is to infuse 1000 ml of D5W over 24 hours to keep the vein
open. Using I.V. with a drop factor of 60 gtts/ml, determine the infusion rate.
SOLUTION:
1000 ml x 60 gtts/ml
1440
60,000 = 42 gtts/min.
1440
2-27. ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATIONS BY IVPB (INTERMITTENT INFUSION)
NOTE:
Intermittent infusion of medications requires giving a drug through an in-
progress I.V. or through a special I.V. catheter called a heparin lock.
a. The terms piggyback and I.V. piggyback (IVPB) are commonly used when
referring to any intermittent infusion that requires more than
5 minutes to complete.
b. The medication is usually diluted in 50 to 100 ml of I.V. fluid and infused over
about 30 minutes.
EXAMPLE: The order is to give Cimetidine 300 mg IVPB q 6h. It is
recommended that this medication be dissolved in 100 ml of I.V.
solution (D5W) and infused over 30 minutes. Using a drop
factor of 20 gtts/ml, determine the infusion rate.
100 ml x 20 gtts/ml
30
2000
30
= 67 gtts/min.
PRACTICE #1: The order is to give 6,000,000 units of Penicillin G IVPB
q 4h. The medication is to be dissolved in 150 ml of I.V.
fluid, and the recommended infusion time is 1 1/2 hours.
Using a drop factor of 20 gtts/ml, determine the infusion rate.
SOLUTION:
150 ml x 20 gtts/ml
90
3000 = 33 gtts/min.
90
MD0904
2-57