1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Definition: BSA is the total surface area of the human body, often used in medical calculations to determine medication dosages and medical indicators.

Purpose: It provides a more accurate measurement than body weight alone for many medical purposes, as it better correlates with metabolic processes.

2. How Is BSA Calculated?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The Mosteller formula is simple to calculate and remember, and it's been validated against more complex methods.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used in medicine for:

• Chemotherapy drug dosing
• Calculating cardiac index and other physiological measurements
• Determining renal clearance rates
• Adjusting pediatric medication dosages

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

Q2: What are other BSA calculation formulas?
A: Other formulas include Du Bois, Haycock, and Gehan-George, but Mosteller is most commonly used for its simplicity and accuracy.

Q3: How accurate is this calculator?
A: The Mosteller formula is accurate to within 1-2% of more complex methods for most individuals.

Q4: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: This calculator requires kg and cm. Convert pounds to kg (1 lb = 0.453592 kg) and inches to cm (1 in = 2.54 cm) first.

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, but varies with body size.