1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Definition: BSA is the calculated surface area of the human body, often used in medical practice for drug dosing and physiological measurements.

Purpose: It provides a more accurate measure than body weight alone for determining medication dosages and other medical calculations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Haycock formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: This formula provides an accurate estimation of body surface area based on weight and height measurements.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is crucial for determining proper medication dosages (especially chemotherapy), calculating cardiac index, and assessing burn patients.

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 body weight?
A: BSA correlates better with metabolic processes and drug clearance rates than body weight alone.

Q2: How accurate is the Haycock formula?
A: The Haycock formula is considered one of the most accurate BSA formulas, especially for pediatric patients.

Q3: When would I need to calculate BSA?
A: Commonly used for chemotherapy dosing, renal function assessment, and critical care medicine.

Q4: Are there other BSA formulas?
A: Yes, other formulas include Du Bois, Mosteller, and Boyd formulas, but Haycock is 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.