INTRAVENOUSE THERAPY NURSE

Volume Expanders

There are two main types of volume expander; crystalloids and colloids. Crystalloids are
aqueous solutions of mineral salts or other water-soluble molecules. Colloids contain larger
insoluble molecules, such as gelatin. Blood is a colloid.
o Colloids preserve a high colloid osmotic pressure in the blood, while, on the other hand,
this parameter is decreased by crystalloids due to hemodilution. However, there is still
controversy with regard to the actual difference in efficacy between colloids and
crystalloids. Crystalloids generally are much cheaper than colloids.
o The most commonly used crystalloid fluid is
normal saline, a solution of sodium chloride at 0.9% concentration (ISOTONIC
SOLUTION).
Lactated Ringer's (also known as Ringer's lactate) and the closely
related Ringer's acetate. ( mild HYPERTONIC SOLUTION). For large

volume replacement.
Blood Base Product

fresh frozen plasma or cryoprecipitate.

Whole blood

IVT CALCULATIONS
Common drop factors are:
10 drops/ml (blood set), 15 drops / ml (regular set), 60 drops / ml (microdrop).
To measure the rate we must know:
(a) the number of drops
(b) time in minutes.
The formula for working out flow rates is:

volume (ml) X drop factor (gtts / ml)

--------------------------------------------time (min)

= gtts / min
(flow rate)

Example:
1500 ml IV Saline is ordered over 12 hours. Using a drop factor of 15 drops / ml, how
many drops per minute need to be delivered?

1500 (ml) X 15 (gttss / ml)

--------------------------------------------------12 x 60 (gives us total minutes)

Volume/Time - IV Drop Rate Questions

Given a certain amount of liquid, a time period, and a drop factor (gtts/mL), what is
the necessary IV flow rate in gtts/min? Measurement used when IV is regulated
manually. Because it is not possible to give a patient a fraction of a drop, it is typical
to round answers for these problems up or down to the nearest whole number.
Formula:
Volume (mL)
Time (min)

x Drop Factor (gtts/mL) = Y (Flow Rate in gtts/min)

Example: Calculate the IV flow rate for 1200 mL of NS to be infused in 6 hours. The
infusion set is calibrated for a drop factor of 15 gtts/mL.
Volume (mL)
x Drop Factor (gtts/mL) = Y (Flow Rate in gtts/min)
Time (min)
Convert 6 hours to minutes.

min hr

( x by 60 )

6 hr x 60 = 360 min
1200 mL
x 15 gtts/mL = 50 gtts/min
360 min

Example: Calculate the IV flow rate for 200 mL of 0.9% NaCl IV over 120 minutes.
Infusion set has drop factor of 20 gtts/mL.
Volume (mL)
x Drop Factor (gtts/mL) = Y (Flow Rate in gtts/min)
Time (min)
200 mL
x 20 gtts/mL = 33 gtts/min
120 min