How To Calculate Total Body Surface Area

Body Surface Area Formula (Mosteller):

\[ \text{BSA} = \sqrt{\frac{W \times H}{3600}} \]

Body Surface Area (m²):

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1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Definition: BSA is the calculated surface area of the human body, often used in medical practice for medication dosing and physiological measurements.

Purpose: It provides a more accurate measurement than body weight alone for determining proper drug dosages and medical treatment parameters.

2. How Does the Mosteller Formula Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

\[ \text{BSA} = \sqrt{\frac{W \times H}{3600}} \]

Where:

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

Explanation: The formula calculates BSA by taking the square root of the product of weight and height divided by 3600.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is crucial for accurate dosing of chemotherapy drugs, antimicrobial agents, and for calculating various physiological parameters like cardiac index.

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 alone?
A: BSA correlates better with metabolic processes and drug distribution than body weight alone.

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 Du Bois, Haycock, and Gehan-George, but Mosteller is most commonly used.

Q4: How accurate is the Mosteller formula?
A: It's accurate to within 1-2% of more complex formulas and is widely accepted in clinical practice.

Q5: When is BSA calculation most important?
A: It's critical for chemotherapy dosing, pediatric medicine, and burn treatment calculations.