BSA Formula (Mosteller):
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Definition: This calculator estimates Body Surface Area (BSA) using the Mosteller formula, which is commonly used for medication dosing.
Purpose: It helps healthcare professionals determine accurate medication doses based on a patient's body surface area.
The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:
Where:
Explanation: The product of weight and height is divided by 3600, and the square root of this value gives the BSA in square meters.
Details: BSA provides a more accurate metric for medication dosing than body weight alone, especially for chemotherapy, pediatric doses, and other critical medications.
Tips: Enter the patient's weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. Both values must be > 0.
Q1: Why use BSA instead of weight for dosing?
A: BSA correlates better with metabolic processes and drug distribution than weight alone.
Q2: What's the advantage of Mosteller formula?
A: It's simple, validated, and widely accepted in clinical practice.
Q3: When is BSA dosing particularly important?
A: For chemotherapy, pediatric medications, and drugs with narrow therapeutic windows.
Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: While useful for estimation, individual patient factors may require dose adjustments.
Q5: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: This calculator uses metric units. Convert pounds to kg (1 lb = 0.453592 kg) and inches to cm (1 in = 2.54 cm).