Because the heart spends approximately two-thirds of the cardiac cycle in diastole at normal heart rates, the MAP is more heavily weighted toward the diastolic blood pressure.
Section 3
Pearls/Pitfalls
The Sepsis Target
The Surviving Sepsis Campaign recommends a target MAP of ≥ 65 mmHg. This is generally the threshold where autoregulation of vital organ perfusion (kidneys, brain) remains intact.
Tachycardia and MAP
As heart rate increases, the proportion of the cardiac cycle spent in diastole decreases. In severe tachycardia, the standard 1/3-2/3 weighting may slightly underestimate the true MAP.
Section 4
Next Steps
Complementary Calculators
SVR Calculator
Cardiac Output Index
Fick Cardiac Output
Pulse Pressure
Shock Index
Section 5
Evidence Appraisal
Critical Care Standard
Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2021.
Evans L et al. • Crit Care Med.. 2021;Reaffirmed the ≥ 65 mmHg MAP target for septic shock resuscitation.
