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 used in many medical contexts including chemotherapy dosing, fluid requirements, and cardiac index calculations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

Where:

• \( Height \) — Patient's height in centimeters
• \( Weight \) — Patient's weight in kilograms

Alternative Formulas: Other BSA formulas include DuBois & DuBois, Haycock, and Gehan & George, but Mosteller is most commonly used in clinical practice.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is crucial for accurate medication dosing (especially chemotherapy), determining appropriate fluid resuscitation volumes, and calculating cardiac and renal indices.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter height in centimeters and weight in kilograms. Both values must be positive numbers. For best accuracy, measure height without shoes and weight with minimal clothing.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use BSA instead of weight for dosing?
A: BSA correlates better with metabolic processes and drug distribution than weight alone, especially for drugs that distribute in body water or fat.

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: How accurate are BSA formulas?
A: Most formulas are within 5-10% of actual measurements, with Mosteller being simplest and most commonly used.

Q4: When should BSA not be used for dosing?
A: For very obese or very muscular patients, adjusted body weight or other methods may be more appropriate.

Q5: Can BSA be used for pediatric patients?
A: Yes, BSA is particularly important for pediatric dosing as it accounts for growth differences.