1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Definition: BSA is the calculated surface area of the human body, commonly 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, renal function assessment, and determining cardiac index. It's more accurate than weight-based dosing for many medications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. Both values must be > 0. The result is displayed in square meters (m²).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use BSA instead of weight for dosing?
A: BSA accounts for both height and weight, correlating better with metabolic rate and drug distribution than weight alone.

Q2: 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.

Q3: Are there other BSA formulas?
A: Yes, including DuBois, Haycock, and Boyd formulas, but Mosteller is simplest and widely accepted.

Q4: How accurate is the Mosteller formula?
A: It's accurate within 1-2% of more complex formulas and is the recommended formula by many organizations.

Q5: When is BSA not appropriate for dosing?
A: For drugs with narrow therapeutic ranges or those distributed primarily in fat or lean body mass.