How Is BSA-Based Anesthesia Dosing Calculated?
Some anesthesia-related medications reflect individual metabolic differences more precisely when dosed by body surface area (BSA) rather than weight alone, so certain protocols use an mg/m² reference dose. This calculator computes BSA from height and weight, then multiplies it by an mg/m² figure your medical team has already provided to reference your estimated total dose — a supporting tool, not a prescribing one.
Calculating BSA with the Mosteller Formula
This calculator uses the Mosteller formula, √(height×weight÷3600), the most widely used method in clinical practice. Multiplying the result by your prescribed mg/m² dose gives the actual total amount (mg) to be administered, useful for confirming a prescription or helping a caregiver understand the numbers.
Remember: This Tool Doesn't Set the Dose Rate
This calculator does not determine the mg/m² figure itself. It only shows the calculation result when you enter a value already provided by an anesthesiologist. The actual anesthesia method and dose must be determined and adjusted by a specialist considering the patient's age, constitution, surgery type, and medical history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some anesthesia-related drugs and protocols do use body surface area (BSA) to determine dosing. Most also factor in body weight, and the final decision is always made by an anesthesiologist.
No. This tool only calculates the actual total dose when you enter an mg/m² figure already provided by your medical team — it does not determine that figure itself. Always follow your anesthesiologist's prescription.
This calculator uses the Mosteller formula, √(height×weight÷3600), the most widely used formula in clinical practice.