1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Definition: BSA is the calculated surface area of a human body, often used in medical practice for medication dosing and other clinical calculations.

Purpose: The Mosteller formula provides a simple way to estimate BSA using just weight and height measurements.

2. How Does the Mosteller Formula Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \text{BSA} \) — 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: BSA is used for:

• Calculating chemotherapy drug dosages
• Determining cardiac index and other physiological measurements
• Adjusting medication doses for pediatric patients
• Assessing burn patients

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 Mosteller formula instead of others?
A: The Mosteller formula is simple, validated, and widely accepted in clinical practice.

Q2: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It provides a good estimate for most clinical purposes, though individual variations exist.

Q3: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: No, this calculator requires metric units (kg and cm). Convert pounds to kg (1 lb = 0.453592 kg) and inches to cm (1 in = 2.54 cm).

Q4: What's the normal BSA range?
A: Average BSA is about 1.7 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women.

Q5: Are there other BSA formulas?
A: Yes, including DuBois & DuBois, Haycock, and Boyd formulas, but Mosteller is most commonly used.