1. Calculating Subcutaneous Heparin Dosages Use –Proportion method –Dimensional analysis –Formula method –As well as the ABC’s of dosage calculation Step A Convert Step B Calculate Step C Think!....Is It Reasonable?

2. Calculating Subcutaneous Heparin Dosages Find the amount to administer: Ordered: Heparin 2500 units subcut On hand: Heparin 5000 ISP units/mL Step A Both dose ordered and dose on hand are in units. No conversion is necessary. Example

3. Calculating Subcutaneous Heparin Dosages – Proportion Method Step B Calculate 5000 units:1mL= 2500 units: A 1 mL x 2500 = 5000 x A 2500 mL / 5000 = 5000A / 5000 A = ½ mL Example

4. Calculating Subcutaneous Heparin Dosages Step C Think!....Is It Reasonable? Since 2500 units is half of 5000 units, the amount to administer should also be half of 1 mL, so the answer is reasonable. Example

5. Practice Ordered: Heparin 7500 units subcut On hand: Heparin 20,000 units/mL Find the amount to administer. Answer: 0.4 mL