1. What is a BSA Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates Body Surface Area (BSA) using the Mosteller formula, which is commonly used in medical practice.

Purpose: It helps healthcare professionals determine medication dosages, chemotherapy regimens, and other clinical parameters.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

Where:

• \( BSA \) — Body Surface Area (square meters)
• \( W \) — Weight (kilograms)
• \( H \) — Height (centimeters)

Explanation: The product of weight and height is divided by 3600, and the square root of this value gives the BSA.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA provides a more accurate measurement than body weight alone for determining drug dosages and physiological measurements.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the patient's weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use BSA instead of weight for dosing?
A: BSA correlates better with metabolic processes and drug distribution than body weight alone.

Q2: What's the accuracy of the Mosteller formula?
A: It's one of the most accurate and widely used BSA formulas, with about 95% correlation to direct measurements.

Q3: When would I need to calculate BSA?
A: Commonly used for chemotherapy dosing, pediatric dosing, and calculating cardiac index.

Q4: Are there other BSA formulas?
A: Yes, including DuBois & DuBois, Haycock, and Boyd formulas, but Mosteller is simplest and most widely accepted.

Q5: What's a normal BSA range?
A: Average BSA is about 1.7 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women, but varies with body size.