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 dosage calculations and physiological measurements.

Purpose: It provides a more accurate measurement than body weight alone for many medical purposes, particularly for medications with narrow therapeutic windows.

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: The formula provides an estimate of body surface area based on weight and height measurements.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used to calculate dosages for chemotherapy drugs, antimicrobial agents, and other medications where body size affects pharmacokinetics.

4. Using the Calculator

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

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use the Haycock formula instead of others?
A: The Haycock formula is considered more accurate than the Du Bois formula, especially for children and non-average body types.

Q2: How accurate is BSA calculation?
A: While useful, BSA is still an estimate. Clinical judgment should always accompany BSA-based dosing decisions.

Q3: When is BSA particularly important?
A: Critical for chemotherapy dosing, pediatric medicine, and burn cases where fluid replacement is based on BSA.

Q4: What's the average BSA for adults?
A: About 1.7 m² for adult women and 1.9 m² for adult men, but varies significantly with body size.

Q5: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: This calculator requires metric units (kg and cm) for accurate results. Convert imperial units first.