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 measurement than body weight alone for many medical purposes.

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, cardiac index calculations, renal function assessments, and pediatric medication dosing.

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 alone?
A: BSA correlates better with metabolic processes and drug distribution than weight alone.

Q2: What are other BSA formulas?
A: Other formulas include Du Bois, Haycock, and Gehan-George, but Mosteller is simplest and widely accepted.

Q3: How accurate is this calculator?
A: It's accurate for most clinical purposes, though individual variations exist.

Q4: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: No, this calculator requires metric units (kg and cm) for the Mosteller formula.

Q5: What's a normal BSA range?
A: Average BSA is about 1.7 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women.