Questions: A client who weights 176 pounds is receiving an IV infusion with esmolol hydrochloride (Brevibloc) at 48 ml / hour. The IV solution is labeled with the concentration of Brevibloc 10 mg / ml. How many mcg / kg / minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric value only. Round to nearest whole number.)

To determine the dosage in micrograms per kilogram per minute (\(\mathrm{mcg} / \mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{minute}\)) that the client is receiving, we need to follow these steps:

1. Convert the client's weight from pounds to kilograms: \[ 1 \text{ pound} = 0.453592 \text{ kilograms} \] \[ 176 \text{ pounds} \times 0.453592 \text{ kg/pound} = 79.832192 \text{ kg} \]

2. Determine the total amount of esmolol hydrochloride (Brevibloc) being infused per hour: \[ \text{Concentration} = 10 \text{ mg/ml} \] \[ \text{Infusion rate} = 48 \text{ ml/hour} \] \[ \text{Total amount per hour} = 48 \text{ ml/hour} \times 10 \text{ mg/ml} = 480 \text{ mg/hour} \]

3. Convert the total amount from mg/hour to mcg/minute: \[ 1 \text{ mg} = 1000 \text{ mcg} \] \[ 480 \text{ mg/hour} \times 1000 \text{ mcg/mg} = 480,000 \text{ mcg/hour} \] \[ \text{Since there are 60 minutes in an hour:} \] \[ 480,000 \text{ mcg/hour} \div 60 \text{ minutes/hour} = 8000 \text{ mcg/minute} \]

4. Calculate the dosage per kilogram per minute: \[ \text{Dosage} = \frac{8000 \text{ mcg/minute}}{79.832192 \text{ kg}} \approx 100.23 \text{ mcg/kg/minute} \]

5. Round to the nearest whole number: \[ \text{Dosage} \approx 100 \text{ mcg/kg/minute} \]

Therefore, the client is receiving approximately 100 mcg/kg/minute.