1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Body Surface Area (BSA) is the measured or calculated surface area of the human body. It is used in many medical measurements including medication dosages and medical classifications. The Mosteller formula provides a simple way to estimate BSA from weight and height.

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 BSA 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 drug dosages for chemotherapy, antimicrobial therapy, and other medications. It's also used in burn cases to estimate the extent of burns and guide fluid resuscitation.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

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 used in clinical practice.

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 with body size.

Q3: When should BSA be used for dosing?
A: BSA-based dosing is particularly important for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows like chemotherapeutic agents.

Q4: Are there limitations to this formula?
A: The formula may be less accurate in extremes of body habitus (very obese or very thin individuals).

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