1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

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

Purpose: Many medications, especially chemotherapy drugs, are dosed according to BSA rather than body weight alone.

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 BSA as the square root of the product of weight and height divided by 3600.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: Accurate BSA calculation ensures proper medication dosing, particularly for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows.

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

Q2: What's the average BSA for adults?
A: 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, including DuBois & DuBois, Haycock, and Boyd formulas, but Mosteller is most common.

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: Mosteller formula is accurate within 1-2% for most individuals.

Q5: When is BSA not used for dosing?
A: For drugs primarily distributed in body water or fat, or for patients with extreme obesity/malnutrition.