1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

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

Purpose: It provides a more accurate measure than body weight alone for determining proper drug dosages and medical parameters.

2. How Does the Mosteller Formula Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The formula calculates BSA as the square root of the product of weight and height divided by 3600.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used for chemotherapy dosing, pediatric drug calculations, renal function assessment, and burn patient management.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. Both values must be greater than 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 weight alone.

Q2: What's the average BSA for adults?
A: Average BSA is about 1.7 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women.

Q3: Are there other BSA formulas?
A: Yes, including DuBois, Haycock, and Gehan-George formulas, but Mosteller is most commonly used.

Q4: How accurate is the Mosteller formula?
A: It's accurate for most clinical purposes and simpler to calculate than other methods.

Q5: When is BSA not appropriate for dosing?
A: For drugs with narrow therapeutic windows or where weight-based dosing is more appropriate.