IVPB (IV Piggyback): Meaning and Rate Calculation
Shows the work. Every example is computed with the formula and numbered steps. For study and exam practice, not for patient care.
IVPB: Intravenous piggyback: a small-volume secondary infusion, usually a medication, connected to a port on the primary IV line.
An IVPB (intravenous piggyback) is a small bag of medication that runs through secondary tubing into a port on the primary IV line, so the client doesn’t need a second IV site. By gravity, the secondary bag hangs higher than the primary so it runs first.
IVPB infusions often run over 30 to 60 minutes. The pump is still set in mL/hr, so divide the minutes by 60 to get hours first, or multiply by 60 minutes per hour. By gravity, use the secondary tubing’s drop factor.
Order: magnesium sulfate 4 g in 100 mL IV over 60 minutes by infusion pump.
- Solve for
- Pump rate (mL/hr)
- Volume
- 100 mL
- Infusion time
- 60 minutes
Formula mL/hr = total volume ÷ total hours.
- Convert minutes to hours: 60 ÷ 60 = 1 hour.
- mL/hr = 100 mL ÷ 1 hour = 100 mL/hr.
- 100 mL/hr is exact, so no rounding is needed.
Answer 100 mL/hr
Sources
- Clinical Calculations: With Applications to General and Specialty Areas — Elsevier (Kee, Marshall, et al.)
- Calculate with Confidence — Elsevier (Morris)