460: Drug Calculations

Question 1

Pounds to kilograms

Answer 1

2.2lb = 1kg

Simple way to convert is by diving the value in half and then subtraction 10% of that value from that value.

Question 2

mLs to drips

Answer 2

1ml = 15gtts

Various options for IV drips:

• 10gtts/ml
• 20gtts/ml
• 60 drips/ml (microdripper, most commonly used for pediatric cases)

Question 3

Metric prefixes

Answer 3

King Henry Died by Drinking Chocolate Milk
Kilo, Hecto, Deca, deci, centi, milli
1000, 100, 10, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001

Question 4

%

Answer 4

= grams per 100ml

50% concentration would indicate 0.5g/ml or 500mg/ml
1% concentration of propofol would indicate 10mg/ml

Question 5

Cubic centimeters (CC) to ml

Answer 5

1cc = 1ml

Question 6

Ratios

Answer 6

Ratios come in the form of grams per ml

1:1000 concentration of epinephrine indicates 1g of epinephrine in 1000ml solution, or 1mg/ml

Question 7

Drug infusions

Answer 7

Often administered at /kg/ and delivered by the pump at ml/hr