The unit commonly used to express neonatal dextrose infusion rate is:

• A. mg/kg/min
• B. mL/kg/min
• C. mg/kg/hr
• D. mL/kg/hr

Answer: (A)

Neonatal dextrose infusion rate is expressed as milligrams of glucose per kilogram of body weight per minute. This unit directly reflects the actual amount of glucose being delivered to the infant per minute relative to their size, which is essential for precise titration to maintain adequate blood glucose levels in such small patients. For example, if 10% dextrose is given at 5 mL/hour to a neonate weighing 1.5 kg, the delivery is 5 mL/hour × 100 mg/mL = 500 mg/hour, which is about 8.33 mg/min. Dividing by the baby’s weight (1.5 kg) gives roughly 5.6 mg/kg/min. Using mg/kg/min standardizes the glucose delivery across different concentrations and volumes, making it the most informative and practical unit for adjusting therapy.