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 measurement than body weight alone for determining proper medication dosages and assessing metabolic mass.

2. How Does the Mosteller Formula 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, providing an estimate of body surface area.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is crucial for accurate dosing of chemotherapy drugs, antimicrobial agents, and other medications where body size affects pharmacokinetics.

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 BSA instead of weight for dosing?
A: BSA better correlates with metabolic processes and drug distribution than weight alone, especially for medications that distribute in body tissues.

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 the Mosteller formula?
A: It's accurate within 1-2% of more complex formulas and is widely accepted in clinical practice.

Q5: When is BSA particularly important?
A: Critical for chemotherapy dosing, pediatric dosing, and when treating patients at extreme ends of the weight spectrum.