What is the approximate mean arterial pressure (MAP) for a patient with a blood pressure of 100/50?

What is the approximate mean arterial pressure (MAP) for a patient with a blood pressure of 100/50?

• A. 66.7 mmHg
• B. 75 mmHg
• C. 90 mmHg
• D. 100 mmHg

Answer: (A)

Mean arterial pressure represents the average pressure driving blood through the vessels throughout the cardiac cycle. A quick, reliable estimate uses diastolic pressure plus about one-third of the pulse pressure because most of the cycle is spent in diastole. Here, systolic is 100 and diastolic is 50, so the pulse pressure is 50. One-third of 50 is 16.7, and adding to the diastolic 50 gives approximately 66.7 mmHg. Using the exact form MAP = (SBP + 2×DBP)/3 yields (100 + 2×50)/3 = 200/3 ≈ 66.7 mmHg. So the approximate MAP is about 66.7 mmHg.

Mean arterial pressure represents the average pressure driving blood through the vessels throughout the cardiac cycle. A quick, reliable estimate uses diastolic pressure plus about one-third of the pulse pressure because most of the cycle is spent in diastole. Here, systolic is 100 and diastolic is 50, so the pulse pressure is 50. One-third of 50 is 16.7, and adding to the diastolic 50 gives approximately 66.7 mmHg. Using the exact form MAP = (SBP + 2×DBP)/3 yields (100 + 2×50)/3 = 200/3 ≈ 66.7 mmHg. So the approximate MAP is about 66.7 mmHg.