Hydrocortisone sodium succinate 250 mg in 1000 mL infused over 10 hours with a drop factor of 10 gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in drops per minute?

Hydrocortisone sodium succinate 250 mg in 1000 mL infused over 10 hours with a drop factor of 10 gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in drops per minute?

• A. 12 gtt/min
• B. 16 gtt/min
• C. 17 gtt/min
• D. 20 gtt/min

Answer: (C)

Flow rate in drops per minute is found by turning the total infusion into drops and spreading them over the total time in minutes. Multiply the volume by the drop factor to get the total drops: 1000 mL × 10 gtt/mL = 10,000 drops. Convert the time to minutes: 10 hours × 60 = 600 minutes. Then divide total drops by total minutes: 10,000 ÷ 600 ≈ 16.67 drops per minute, which rounds to about 17 gtt/min. The 250 mg amount isn’t needed for this rate calculation; it just tells you the drug amount in the bag.

Flow rate in drops per minute is found by turning the total infusion into drops and spreading them over the total time in minutes. Multiply the volume by the drop factor to get the total drops: 1000 mL × 10 gtt/mL = 10,000 drops. Convert the time to minutes: 10 hours × 60 = 600 minutes. Then divide total drops by total minutes: 10,000 ÷ 600 ≈ 16.67 drops per minute, which rounds to about 17 gtt/min. The 250 mg amount isn’t needed for this rate calculation; it just tells you the drug amount in the bag.