a) Rate of infusion calculation

An infant (body weight 2.4 kg) is prescribed total parenteral nutrition. The parenteral nutrition formula contains 55 ml of dextrose 10% in a total volume of 550ml to be infused over 24 hours. (Molecular weight of dextrose = 180)

What is the rate of dextrose infusion (in mg/kg/min)? (3 marks)


Dextrose 10% = 10g/100ml

-> 55 mls will contain 5.5g (5500mg) of dextrose.


5500mg dextrose infused over 24 hours (1440 min)


Infant body weight = 2.4 kg


Rate of dextrose infusion in mg/kg/min


5500 mg/ 2.4 kg / 1440 min


= 1.59 mg/kg/min


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