1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Body Surface Area (BSA) is the measured or calculated surface area of the human body. It's used in many medical contexts including drug dosage calculations and medical tests. The Haycock formula is one of several methods to estimate BSA.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Haycock formula:

Where:

• \( W \) — Weight in kilograms (kg)
• \( H \) — Height in centimeters (cm)
• \( BSA \) — Body Surface Area in square meters (m²)

Explanation: The formula uses exponential relationships between weight, height and body surface area to provide an accurate estimation.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used to calculate medical indices, drug dosages (especially chemotherapy), and for determining physiological measurements. It's more accurate than body weight alone for many medical purposes.

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 Haycock formula instead of others?
A: The Haycock formula has been shown to perform well across all age groups and body sizes, though other formulas (DuBois, Mosteller) are also commonly used.

Q2: What are normal BSA values?
A: Average BSA is about 1.7 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women, but varies significantly with body size.

Q3: When is BSA most important?
A: Particularly important for chemotherapy dosing, cardiac index calculations, and burn assessment.

Q4: Are there limitations to BSA calculations?
A: All formulas are estimates. Extremely muscular or obese individuals may have less accurate results.

Q5: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: This calculator requires metric units (kg and cm). Convert pounds to kg (1 lb = 0.453592 kg) and inches to cm (1 in = 2.54 cm) first.