Mean Arterial Pressure

What is this formula?

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) estimates the average arterial pressure during a complete cardiac cycle. It is one of the most important indicators of organ perfusion and cardiovascular status.

When to use it

Use this formula when evaluating blood pressure, tissue perfusion, shock, critical care patients, and cardiovascular function.

Example

Data:

SBP = 120 mmHg

DBP = 80 mmHg

Formula:

MAP = (SBP + 2 × DBP) / 3

Substitution:

MAP = (120 + 2 × 80) / 3

Result:

MAP = 93.3 mmHg

Applications

- Blood pressure assessment

- Critical care monitoring

- Shock evaluation

- Cardiovascular risk assessment

- Organ perfusion monitoring

Note

This formula is a clinical approximation that assumes a normal heart rate and typical arterial pressure waveform. More accurate methods exist using direct arterial pressure monitoring. The result should be interpreted as an estimate of average arterial pressure.