1. What is mg/kg to mg/m² Conversion?

The mg/kg to mg/m² conversion is used to adjust medication doses based on body surface area (BSA) rather than just weight. This is particularly important in chemotherapy and other medications where BSA provides a more accurate dosing parameter.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following equation:

Where:

• \( mg/kg \) — Dose in milligrams per kilogram
• \( Weight\_kg \) — Patient's weight in kilograms
• \( BSA\_m² \) — Patient's body surface area in square meters

Explanation: The equation converts a weight-based dose to a body surface area-based dose, which may be more appropriate for certain medications.

3. Importance of Dose Conversion

Details: BSA-based dosing is particularly important in chemotherapy, pediatric medications, and other drugs where metabolic rate (which correlates with BSA) is more important than weight alone.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the dose in mg/kg, patient's weight in kg, and BSA in m². All values must be positive numbers. BSA can be calculated separately using Mosteller or other formulas.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use mg/m² instead of mg/kg?
A: For many drugs, especially chemotherapy, body surface area correlates better with metabolic rate and drug clearance than weight alone.

Q2: How is BSA calculated?
A: BSA is typically calculated using formulas like Mosteller: √(height(cm) × weight(kg)/3600). Separate BSA calculators are available.

Q3: When is this conversion most important?
A: Particularly important for chemotherapy, pediatric dosing, and drugs with narrow therapeutic windows.

Q4: Are there limitations to this conversion?
A: Some drugs have maximum dose limits regardless of BSA. Always follow specific medication guidelines.

Q5: How does this relate to fluid volumes in gallons?
A: While primarily used for drug dosing, the same conversion principles can apply to fluid administration when adjusted for BSA.