Rate Calculation:
From: | To: |
The mg per kg per minute calculation is used to determine the actual medication administration rate based on patient weight and prescribed dosage. This is commonly used in critical care and anesthesia settings.
The calculator uses the simple equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation converts a weight-based dosage to an absolute rate of medication administration.
Details: Accurate rate calculation is crucial for safe medication administration, especially for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows or potent effects.
Tips: Enter dosage in mg/kg/min and weight in kg. Both values must be positive numbers for calculation.
Q1: When is this calculation most commonly used?
A: This is frequently used for vasoactive drugs, inotropes, and anesthetic agents that are dosed by weight.
Q2: How precise should the calculation be?
A: For critical medications, calculations should be precise to at least 3 decimal places.
Q3: What if the patient's weight changes?
A: The infusion rate should be recalculated whenever there's a significant change in patient weight.
Q4: Are there limitations to this calculation?
A: This assumes linear pharmacokinetics. Some drugs may require more complex calculations.
Q5: Should this be used for pediatric patients?
A: Yes, but with extra caution as pediatric dosing often requires more precision.