1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Definition: BSA is the calculated surface area of the human body, often used in medical practice to calculate drug dosages and medical indicators.

Purpose: It provides a more accurate measurement than body weight alone for determining proper medication dosages and physiological measurements.

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 by taking the square root of the product of weight and height divided by 3600.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is crucial for accurate dosing of chemotherapy drugs, determining cardiac index, and calculating glomerular filtration rate.

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 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 Du Bois, Haycock, and Gehan-George formulas, but Mosteller is simplest and widely accepted.

Q4: How accurate is this calculator?
A: It's clinically accurate for most purposes, though extreme body types may require adjustment.

Q5: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: No, this calculator requires metric units (kg and cm) for accurate results.