<a href="https://endcalc.com/?p=117">Mean Arterial Pressure</a> (MAP) Calculator

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Evidence-Based Clinical Tool

Mean Arterial Pressure

Calculates MAP from systolic and diastolic blood pressure to assess perfusion adequacy.

Used to assess adequacy of tissue perfusion — particularly in ICU, sepsis, and shock management — where a MAP ≥60 mmHg is the minimum threshold and ≥65 mmHg is the target recommended by the Surviving Sepsis Campaign.

Formula MAP = ⅓ × SBP + ⅔ × DBP

Systolic BP

SBP

Peak pressure during cardiac contraction

mmHg

60240 mmHg

Diastolic BP

DBP

Minimum pressure between beats

mmHg

30160 mmHg

Enter systolic and diastolic blood pressure to calculate MAP

Interpretation

MAP (mmHg)	Status	Clinical Significance
< 60	Critical — hypoperfusion	Organ ischaemia likely; immediate intervention required
60 – 64	Below sepsis target	Below SSC ≥65 mmHg target for septic shock
65 – 100	Adequate perfusion	Meets minimum tissue perfusion thresholds
> 100	Elevated	Assess for hypertensive urgency or end-organ damage

SSC = Surviving Sepsis Campaign. Target MAP ≥65 mmHg is recommended for resuscitation of adults with septic shock on vasopressors.

Formula assumes a 1:2 systole-to-diastole ratio The standard MAP formula (⅓ SBP + ⅔ DBP) assumes that diastole occupies approximately two-thirds of the cardiac cycle. At high heart rates, diastole shortens and this ratio no longer holds — the formula may underestimate true MAP in tachycardic patients. Invasive arterial line monitoring is more accurate in these settings.

MAP does not reflect regional perfusion A MAP ≥65 mmHg does not guarantee adequate perfusion to all organs. In states of distributive shock or high vascular resistance, global MAP can be preserved while individual organ blood flow is severely compromised. Lactate, urine output, and clinical signs must be assessed alongside MAP.

Target MAP may need individualisation The ≥65 mmHg SSC target is a population-based guideline. Patients with pre-existing hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, or renal artery stenosis may require higher MAPs (≥70–80 mmHg) to maintain organ perfusion. Conversely, lower targets may be appropriate in certain haemorrhagic shock protocols.

Cuff-based measurements introduce error Non-invasive sphygmomanometry can underestimate systolic or overestimate diastolic pressure — particularly in arrhythmias, obesity, or peripheral vascular disease — propagating error into the MAP calculation. Invasive arterial line MAP is the gold standard in haemodynamically unstable patients.

Pulse pressure is also clinically informative MAP alone does not convey information about stroke volume or vascular compliance. A narrow pulse pressure (<25 mmHg) alongside a normal MAP may indicate low cardiac output, while a wide pulse pressure may suggest aortic regurgitation or high-output states — both invisible from MAP alone.

References

Magder SA. The highs and lows of blood pressure: toward meaningful clinical targets in patients with shock. Crit Care Med. 2014;42(5):1241–1251.

Sesso HD, et al. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, and mean arterial pressure as predictors of cardiovascular disease risk in men. Hypertension. 2000;36:801–807.

Walsh M, Devereaux PJ, et al. Relationship between intraoperative mean arterial pressure and clinical outcomes after noncardiac surgery. Anesthesiology. 2013;119(3):507–515.

Evans L, et al. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International guidelines for management of sepsis and septic shock 2021. Intensive Care Med. 2021;47(11):1181–1247.

This calculator is provided for educational and informational purposes only. MAP is one parameter in haemodynamic assessment and must be interpreted in the full clinical context. Do not make resuscitation decisions based solely on this tool. Always consult a qualified clinician.

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) Calculator

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Mean Arterial Pressure