1. What is Mean Pulmonary Arterial Pressure (MPAP)?

Definition: MPAP is the average pressure in the pulmonary artery during a single cardiac cycle.

Purpose: It's an important hemodynamic measurement used to assess pulmonary hypertension and right heart function.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( MPAP \) — Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mmHg)
• \( PASP \) — Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (mmHg)
• \( PADP \) — Pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (mmHg)

Explanation: The formula weights the diastolic pressure twice as much as systolic pressure to account for the longer duration of diastole in the cardiac cycle.

3. Importance of MPAP Calculation

Details: MPAP is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring pulmonary hypertension (normal range: 10-20 mmHg). Values above 25 mmHg at rest indicate pulmonary hypertension.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter PASP and PADP values obtained from right heart catheterization or echocardiography. Both values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the normal range for MPAP?
A: Normal MPAP is 10-20 mmHg at rest. Values ≥25 mmHg indicate pulmonary hypertension.

Q2: How is MPAP measured clinically?
A: Gold standard is right heart catheterization, but echocardiography can estimate it non-invasively.

Q3: Why is diastolic pressure weighted more?
A: Because diastole typically lasts longer than systole in the cardiac cycle.

Q4: What if I only have PASP and mean pressure?
A: You can rearrange the formula: PADP = (3*MPAP - PASP)/2

Q5: How does MPAP differ from systemic MAP?
A: Systemic MAP uses (SBP + 2*DBP)/3 formula but pulmonary pressures are normally much lower than systemic pressures.