What is the Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) goal for right heart failure?

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Last updated: February 12, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

The Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) goal for right heart failure is greater than 65 mm Hg.

Rationale

  • The goal of MAP >65 mm Hg is to improve RV supply/demand balance and optimize ventricular interdependence, as stated in the study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology 1.
  • This is part of the postoperative management strategies and therapeutic targets to address right-sided heart failure, which also includes preload optimization, afterload reduction, and inotrope use.
  • Specifically, the study suggests that afterload reduction with a MAP >65 mm Hg can help recouple the RV to the PA and improve ejection, highlighting the importance of maintaining adequate blood pressure in right heart failure.
  • Additionally, the use of inotropes with a cardiac index >2.0 and pacing strategies with a heart rate of 90-110 beats/min can also help improve RV function and overall cardiac output.

From the Research

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) Goal for Right Heart Failure

  • The optimal MAP target for patients with right ventricular failure (RVF) secondary to pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) remains unknown 2.
  • A retrospective analysis of 60 patients with decompensated RVF secondary to pre-capillary PH found that a dynamic MAP goal determined by invasively obtained central venous pressure or right atrial pressure was associated with a statistically significant decrease in in-hospital mortality and incidence of acute kidney injury compared to a static MAP goal of 65 or 70 mmHg 2.
  • A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that a higher MAP goal (> 70 mmHg) was associated with similar risk of mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, and ICU length of stay compared to a standard MAP goal (60-70 mmHg) in critically ill patients 3.
  • A study of patients with heart failure found that a higher MAP was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality and readmission, with a threshold analysis indicating that a MAP of ≤ 93 mmHg was associated with improved outcomes 4.
  • The ratio of MAP to right atrial pressure (RAP) has been identified as a predictor of outcome after successful percutaneous edge-to-edge repair for severe mitral valve regurgitation, with a MAP/RAP ratio threshold of 7.13 associated with improved event-free survival 5.
  • A multicentre, randomized, controlled trial is currently underway to compare three different strategies of MAP management during cardiopulmonary bypass, including a "standard MAP" (50-60 mmHg), a "high MAP" (70-80 mmHg), and a "patient-tailored MAP" (comparable to the patient's preoperative MAP) 6.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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