1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Body Surface Area (BSA) is a measurement of the total surface area of the human body. It's commonly used in medical practice to calculate medication dosages and medical indicators that are more precise than those based on body weight alone.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

Where:

• \( W \) — Weight in kilograms (kg)
• \( H \) — Height in centimeters (cm)

Explanation: The Mosteller formula is one of the most widely used BSA calculation methods due to its simplicity and accuracy.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used to calculate dosages for many medications, particularly chemotherapy drugs, where precise dosing is critical. It's also used to calculate cardiac index and other physiological measurements.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. Both values must be greater than zero for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use BSA instead of weight for dosing?
A: BSA correlates better with metabolic processes and organ size than body weight alone, leading to more accurate dosing for many medications.

Q2: What are typical BSA values?
A: Average BSA is about 1.7 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women. Children have smaller values that increase with age.

Q3: Are there other BSA formulas?
A: Yes, other formulas include DuBois & DuBois, Haycock, and Boyd, but Mosteller is most commonly used due to its simplicity.

Q4: When is BSA most important?
A: BSA is especially important for chemotherapy dosing, pediatric dosing, and drugs with narrow therapeutic windows.

Q5: How accurate is the Mosteller formula?
A: It's accurate for most clinical purposes, though in extreme body types (very obese or very thin), other methods might be more precise.