1. What is Mg/m² Dose Calculation?

Definition: This calculator determines the total medication dose in milligrams (mg) based on the dose per square meter (mg/m²) and the patient's body surface area (BSA).

Purpose: It helps healthcare professionals calculate precise medication doses for chemotherapy, antibiotics, and other drugs dosed by body surface area.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \text{Dose} \) — Total medication dose (mg)
• \( D_{m2} \) — Dose per square meter (mg/m²)
• \( \text{BSA} \) — Body surface area (m²)

Explanation: The dose per square meter is multiplied by the patient's body surface area to determine the total dose required.

3. Importance of BSA-based Dosing

Details: BSA dosing is more accurate than weight-based dosing for many medications, especially in chemotherapy, as it better correlates with metabolic rate and organ size.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the medication's mg/m² dose and the patient's BSA in square meters. Both values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How do I find my patient's BSA?
A: Use our BSA Calculator or calculate using the Mosteller formula: √(height in cm × weight in kg / 3600).

Q2: Why use mg/m² instead of mg/kg?
A: Many drugs have better correlation with metabolic rate which relates more closely to BSA than to weight.

Q3: What's a typical adult BSA?
A: Average is 1.7 m² for men and 1.6 m² for women, but varies significantly by height and weight.

Q4: Are there maximum dose limits?
A: Yes, many drugs have maximum doses regardless of BSA. Always check prescribing guidelines.

Q5: How precise should BSA measurements be?
A: For critical medications like chemotherapy, BSA should be calculated to 2 decimal places (e.g., 1.73 m²).