1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Body Surface Area (BSA) is the calculated surface area of the human body. It's often used in medical practice to calculate drug dosages and medical indicators. The Mosteller formula is one of the most commonly used equations for BSA calculation.

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 formula calculates body surface area by taking the square root of the product of weight and height divided by 3600.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used to calculate dosages for many medications, particularly chemotherapy drugs. It's also used to determine 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 Mosteller formula instead of others?
A: The Mosteller formula is simple to calculate and has been validated against more complex methods. It's widely accepted in clinical practice.

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: When is BSA most important?
A: BSA is crucial for chemotherapy dosing, pediatric dosing, and when calculating cardiac index or other indexed parameters.

Q4: Are there limitations to BSA calculations?
A: BSA doesn't account for body composition. Obese patients may need adjusted dosing as some medications distribute differently in adipose tissue.

Q5: Should BSA be used for all drug dosing?
A: No, only for drugs where dosing is specifically recommended to be based on BSA. Many drugs are dosed by weight alone.