The mean arterial pressure calculator computes MAP from systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings using the standard formula: MAP = (Systolic + 2 × Diastolic) ÷ 3. MAP is the average pressure in the arterial circulation throughout the cardiac cycle and is the key haemodynamic parameter used to assess adequate organ perfusion. A MAP of at least 60–65 mmHg is required to perfuse the brain, kidneys, and coronary arteries; in septic shock, a target MAP of ≥65 mmHg is a core resuscitation endpoint.
| MAP Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 60 mmHg | Critical — inadequate organ perfusion (shock) |
| 60–69 mmHg | Low — monitor closely, intervene if symptomatic |
| 70–100 mmHg | Normal — adequate organ perfusion |
| 101–110 mmHg | Elevated — hypertension, monitor |
| > 110 mmHg | Severely elevated — assess for hypertensive urgency/emergency |
Normal MAP is 70–100 mmHg. A MAP below 60 mmHg is considered critically low and indicates inadequate perfusion of vital organs. In clinical practice, a MAP of ≥65 mmHg is the standard target in patients with septic shock receiving vasopressors.
MAP is not simply the average of systolic and diastolic — it is a weighted average that accounts for the fact that the heart spends approximately twice as long in diastole as in systole at normal heart rates. The formula MAP = (SBP + 2 × DBP) ÷ 3 reflects this weighting.