What is MAP?
Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is the average arterial pressure across a single cardiac cycle and reflects the driving force that pushes blood through the vascular system.
How to Calculate?
MAP is derived from systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings. Because the heart spends more time in diastole, the diastolic value carries twice the weight of systolic pressure in the standard formula.
Standard Formula: MAP = (SBP + 2 × DBP) ÷ 3
Weighting diastolic pressure captures the longer relaxation phase of the cardiac cycle, producing a stable estimate of perfusion pressure.
Clinical Significance
Maintaining MAP within the target range safeguards tissue perfusion and guides interventions in anesthesia, critical care, and emergency medicine.
Normal Ranges
Low MAP (<60 mmHg): risk of organ hypoperfusion and potential shock.
Normal MAP (60-100 mmHg): supports adequate perfusion in most adult patients.
High MAP (>100 mmHg): may signal increased cardiac workload or hypertensive crises.
When to Use?
Use MAP when you need a concise view of perfusion pressure to align treatment plans across teams.
- Assessing shock states or sepsis bundles in critical care.
- Guiding vasoactive titration during anesthesia or procedural sedation.
- Monitoring hypertensive emergencies or end-organ protection.
- Evaluating fluid responsiveness and perfusion goals in trauma resuscitation.
Disclaimer
MAP outputs are estimates. Individual patient responses vary and require comprehensive evaluation.
Medical standards evolve quickly; review updates regularly.
Emergency Warning
If you suspect a medical emergency, call the emergency services in your region (for example 911) or go to the nearest emergency department.
Intended Audience
- Licensed physicians and advanced practice providers
- Registered nurses, paramedics, and allied health professionals
- Medical and nursing students under licensed supervision
Not Appropriate For
- Self-diagnosis or self-directed treatment by the general public
- Situations requiring urgent or emergent medical care
- Decisions without consulting qualified clinicians
Clinical Judgment Comes First
- Compare calculated MAP against bedside findings and full clinical context.
- Resolve discrepancies using your professional training and institutional protocols.
- Document supporting evidence when incorporating calculator outputs into care plans.
Review the full medical disclaimer
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We do not collect, store, or transmit personal health data. All calculations run directly in your browser so your entries remain on your device. Basic, anonymized analytics may be used to understand feature usage and keep the tool reliable.
Terms of Service
By using this tool you agree it is provided "as is" for educational reference. It is not a substitute for professional medical judgment. You are responsible for verifying results before applying them in clinical practice.
Contact
Questions or feedback? Reach out to the site administrator at [email protected].
Evidence-Based References
- Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults. Hypertension. 2018;71(6):e13–e115.
- Evans L, Rhodes A, Alhazzani W, et al. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: international guidelines for management of sepsis and septic shock 2021. Intensive Care Med. 2021;47(11):1181–1247.
- Saugel B, Vincent J-L, Wagner JY. Personalized blood pressure management in critically ill patients. Intensive Care Med. 2020;46(9):1704–1712.
- Cecconi M, De Backer D, Antonelli M, et al. Consensus on circulatory shock and hemodynamic monitoring. Intensive Care Med. 2014;40(12):1795–1815.