If the dental hygienist administered 105 mg of bupivacaine to a 150-pound patient, how many cartridges were administered?

To determine how many cartridges of bupivacaine were administered, it is essential to know the amount of bupivacaine contained in a standard cartridge. Typically, a cartridge of bupivacaine contains 1.8 mL of solution, with the concentration usually being either 0.5% or 0.25%. In a 0.5% solution, for instance, one cartridge contains approximately 9 mg of bupivacaine (calculated as 0.5 g/100 mL → 0.5 g/100 mL * 1.8 mL = 9 mg).

Given that 105 mg of bupivacaine was administered, the calculation to find the number of cartridges used is:

1. Determine the amount of bupivacaine per cartridge: 9 mg.

2. Divide the total amount administered by the amount per cartridge: 105 mg ÷ 9 mg/cartridge = approximately 11.67 cartridges.

This calculation confirms that the quantity of bupivacaine provided to the patient resulted in approximately 11.6 cartridges administered, which aligns with the chosen response.

Understanding the dosage per cartridge is crucial because it allows healthcare providers