1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Definition: BSA is the calculated surface area of a human body, often used in medical practice for drug dosage calculations and physiological measurements.

Purpose: It provides a more accurate metric than body weight alone for determining medication dosages, especially for chemotherapy, pediatric doses, and other critical medications.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

Where:

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

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

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: Accurate BSA calculation is crucial for proper drug dosing, nutritional assessment, and determining treatment parameters in various medical specialties.

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 BSA instead of weight for drug dosing?
A: BSA correlates better with metabolic processes and drug distribution than weight alone, especially for medications with narrow therapeutic windows.

Q2: What's the average BSA for adults?
A: The 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, other formulas include DuBois & DuBois, Haycock, and Boyd formulas, but Mosteller is most commonly used for its simplicity and accuracy.

Q4: How accurate is this calculator?
A: It provides a good estimate but may need adjustment for extreme body types or pediatric patients - always consult a healthcare professional.

Q5: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: The formula requires kg and cm. Convert pounds to kg (1 lb = 0.4536 kg) and inches to cm (1 inch = 2.54 cm) first.