Answer :
Final answer:
After calculating the patient's weight in kilograms and determining the total dose of dopamine required per minute, we convert this dose to milliliters using the given medication concentration and drip set specification. While the calculation results in approximately 32 drops/min, this option is not provided in the question, indicating a possible error in the question or provided options.
Explanation:
To solve this problem, we first need to calculate the dose of dopamine in micrograms per kilogram per minute (mcg/kg/min) for a patient weighing 187 pounds. Knowing that 1 pound is equivalent to 0.453592 kilograms, the patient's weight in kilograms is 187 * 0.453592 = 84.82 kg approximately. The prescribed dose is 10 mcg/kg/min, so the total dose per minute is 10 * 84.82 = 848.2 mcg/min.
Next, we need to find out how many milligrams (mg) this dose is because our dopamine is measured in mg. Since 1 mg = 1000 mcg, the dose in mg is 848.2 / 1000 = 0.8482 mg/min. The concentration of dopamine is 800mg in 500ml, so the concentration in mg/ml is 800 mg / 500 ml = 1.6 mg/ml.
To find out how many milliliters per minute this dose requires, we divide the dose in mg by the concentration in mg/ml: 0.8482 mg/min / 1.6 mg/ml = 0.5301 ml/min.
Finally, since we are using a micro set that delivers 60 drops/ml, the number of drops per minute is 0.5301 ml * 60 drops/ml = 31.806 drops/min. Rounding to the nearest whole number, the correct answer is 32 drops/min, which is not an option provided in the question. There may have been a mistake in the question or in the options given.
