| Administering
a "bolus" medication
Administering
a bolus medication over a specific time frame via buretrol or syringe
pump is one possible medication delivery method. Generally,
administering a bolus dosage means delivering a given amount in
a "shorter" time, such as IV push.
Example:
John
is to be given an Aminophylline bolus of 30 mg in 20 ml of fluid
over 20 minutes. The primary IV is running at 40 ml/hr.
The drip factor of the tubing (buretrol) is 60 gtts/cc or minidrip.
What is the flow rate needed to deliver the Aminophylline bolus
as ordered?
What is the critical information?
- The
volume of fluid (20 ml)
- The
time over which it is to be given (20 minutes)
- A
bolus dose of aminophylline will be given in a controlled manner,
ie, infusion pump.
What is extraneous information
not needed for calculating?
- Primary
IV running at 40 ml /hr. This may be helpful to compare
the calculated rate to, but it is not factored into the formula
for calculation.
- 30
mg (of Aminophylline)
- The
drip factor of the tubing (60 gtts/ml).
20
ml
20 min
|
x
|
X
ml
60 min
|
|
20
x
|
=
|
1200
|
|
X
|
=
|
60
|
| The
flow rate will be 60 ml/hr or 60 dialed in the pump. |
Tip:
- Many
medications may be ordered as a "bolus". You will need to
look carefully at the medication to see if can safely be delivered
in a bolus manner. For instance, "KCl bolus IV" should be
given over 1 hour.
- Investigate
the capabilities of the IV infusion pump to see how it will deliver
a bolus medication.
|
