1. What is the BSA Dose Calculator?

The BSA (Body Surface Area) Dose Calculator determines medication dosage based on a patient's body surface area. This method is commonly used for chemotherapy drugs and other medications where dosing based on body size is critical.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula for BSA:

Where:

• \( W \) — Weight in kilograms (kg)
• \( H \) — Height in centimeters (cm)
• \( D_{m2} \) — Dose per square meter (mg/m²)
• \( BSA \) — Body surface area in square meters (m²)

Explanation: The Mosteller formula provides a simple yet accurate way to estimate body surface area from weight and height measurements.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA-based dosing is particularly important for medications with narrow therapeutic windows, where precise dosing is critical for both efficacy and safety.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the prescribed dose per m², patient's weight in kg, and height in cm. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use BSA for dosing instead of weight alone?
A: BSA correlates better with metabolic rate and drug clearance for many medications, especially chemotherapeutic agents.

Q2: What are the limitations of BSA dosing?
A: BSA may not be optimal for obese patients or medications that distribute differently in adipose tissue.

Q3: Are there other BSA formulas?
A: Yes, other formulas include Du Bois, Haycock, and Gehan-George, but Mosteller is widely used for its simplicity and accuracy.

Q4: When is BSA dosing most commonly used?
A: Primarily for chemotherapy, but also for some antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs, and pediatric medications.

Q5: How accurate is the Mosteller formula?
A: It's within 1-2% of more complex formulas and is the recommended method by many organizations.