1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Definition: BSA is the calculated surface area of the 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 drugs, and other critical medications.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Haycock formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The formula calculates body surface area based on weight and height using empirically derived exponents.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: Accurate BSA calculation is crucial for proper medication 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 greater than 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use Haycock formula instead of others?
A: The Haycock formula is considered more accurate for both children and adults compared to some other BSA formulas.

Q2: What's a typical BSA range?
A: Average BSA is about 1.7 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women, but varies significantly with body size.

Q3: When is BSA particularly important?
A: Critical for chemotherapy dosing, pediatric medications, and when calculating parameters like cardiac index.

Q4: How do I convert pounds to kilograms?
A: 1 kg = 2.20462 pounds. Divide pounds by 2.20462 to get kilograms.

Q5: How do I convert feet/inches to centimeters?
A: 1 foot = 30.48 cm, 1 inch = 2.54 cm. Multiply feet by 30.48 and inches by 2.54, then add together.