3) Is the clinical calculation for “Patient 1” provided in the article correct?

Question

3) Is the clinical calculation for “Patient 1” provided in the article correct? Why or why not?

Arthur Smith is a 79-year-old man with acute atrial brillation. He requires an emergency loading dose of digoxin IV
of 0.75 mg over at least 2 hours. You decide that this dose is correct according to the British National Formulary (Joint Formulary Committee, 2014b). You

have available 2 ml ampoules containing 250 mcg/ml. You have calculated that Arthur requires 75 mcg of digoxin, and the volume of digoxin injection you need to give this dose is 0.3 ml (75 mcg

/ 250 mcg x 1 ml). Have you worked this out correctly?

Explanation / Answer

Loading dose of digoxin IV – 0.75 mg over 2 hours

Each 2 ml ampule contains – 250 mcg/ml

Dose required for Arthur – 750 mcg (since 0.75 mg = 750 mcg)

The volume of digoxin injection you need to give this dose is 3 ml (750 mcg

/ 250 mcg x 1 ml).

Thus, the given calculation is incorrect.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse 3
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.