Where do enteric coated tablets typically disintegrate in the body?

A) Esophagus
Enteric-coated tablets are designed to not dissolve or disintegrate in the esophagus. They are coated with a protective layer that prevents the tablet from breaking down in the acidic environment of the stomach. This is to ensure that the medication is released in the part of the digestive tract where it is most needed, typically beyond the stomach.

B) Duodenum
Enteric-coated tablets are designed to disintegrate in the duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine. The coating protects the tablet from stomach acid, allowing it to pass intact through the stomach and into the small intestine, where the pH is higher and the coating dissolves, releasing the medication for absorption.

C) Stomach
Enteric-coated tablets are specifically designed not to disintegrate in the stomach because the stomach's acidic environment could either damage the drug or cause premature release. The coating ensures that the drug is protected until it reaches the more neutral pH of the duodenum.

D) Colon
The colon is too far along in the digestive tract for enteric-coated tablets to typically disintegrate. The design of enteric coatings is intended to protect the drug until it reaches the duodenum, where absorption is most efficient. Enteric coatings are not meant to disintegrate in the colon.

Given:

Volume of fluid: 1000 mL

Infusion time: 8 hours

Drop factor: 15 gtt/mL

Formula:

Flow rate (gtt/min) = (Volume (mL) / Time (hr)) x Drop factor (gtt/mL) / 60 min/hr

Step 1: Calculate the infusion rate in mL/hr:

Infusion rate (mL/hr) = Volume (mL) / Time (hr)

Infusion rate (mL/hr) = 1000 mL / 8 hr

Infusion rate (mL/hr) = 125 mL/hr

Step 2: Calculate the flow rate in gtt/min:

Flow rate (gtt/min) = (Infusion rate (mL/hr) x Drop factor (gtt/mL)) / 60 min/hr

Flow rate (gtt/min) = (125 mL/hr x 15 gtt/mL) / 60 min/hr

Flow rate (gtt/min) = 1875 gtt/hr / 60 min/hr

Flow rate (gtt/min) = 31.25 gtt/min

Step 3: Round to the nearest whole number:

Flow rate (gtt/min) ≈ 31 gtt/min