Cerebral Perfusion Pressure (CPP) Calculator
Enter systolic BP, diastolic BP and intracranial pressure to compute the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP = MAP − ICP), with a clinical severity interpretation.
mmHg
mmHg
mmHg
Normal CPP — adequate cerebral blood flow
- 1
Mean arterial pressure (MAP)
(120 + 2 × 80) ÷ 3 = 93.3Diastole lasts ~twice as long as systole, so MAP is weighted 1:2 (SBP:DBP). - 2
Cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)
93.3 − 10 = 83.3
How does this calculator work?
CPP = MAP − ICP, where MAP = (SBP + 2×DBP) / 3. Normal CPP is 60–100 mmHg. Target CPP of 60–70 mmHg is recommended in traumatic brain injury (BTF 2016 guidelines). ICP above 20 mmHg typically requires treatment. Always interpret with a qualified clinician; this calculator is for educational use.
Formula
How this is calculated
Cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) is the net driving pressure that pushes blood through the cerebral vasculature. It is the difference between the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the intracranial pressure (ICP). MAP itself is the time-averaged blood pressure over one cardiac cycle; because diastole lasts roughly twice as long as systole, MAP is approximated as (SBP + 2×DBP) / 3.
Normal CPP in a healthy adult is approximately 60–100 mmHg. In neurocritical care (traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid haemorrhage, stroke), the Brain Trauma Foundation guidelines (2016) recommend maintaining CPP between 60 and 70 mmHg to avoid secondary ischaemic injury. Below 50 mmHg autoregulation typically fails; below 40 mmHg severe cerebral ischaemia is likely. Normal resting ICP is below 15 mmHg; values above 20 mmHg are generally treated in neurointensive care settings.
This calculator is an educational and screening tool only. ICP is measured invasively (intraventricular catheter, intraparenchymal transducer or lumbar puncture) and management requires expert clinical judgement. The thresholds cited here reflect 2016 BTF guidelines and may differ from current local protocols.
Frequently asked questions
Normal CPP in a healthy adult is approximately 60–100 mmHg. In traumatic brain injury management, the Brain Trauma Foundation guidelines (2016) recommend a CPP target of 60–70 mmHg. Below 50 mmHg cerebral autoregulation typically fails; below 40 mmHg severe ischaemia is likely.
ICP is measured invasively, most commonly with an intraventricular catheter (EVD/ICP bolt) or an intraparenchymal transducer. Non-invasive surrogate methods (optic nerve sheath diameter ultrasound, pupillometry) exist but are less accurate. Normal resting ICP is below 15 mmHg.
Because the heart spends more time in diastole than in systole (roughly a 2:1 ratio at rest), the true mean arterial pressure is closer to diastolic than to the arithmetic midpoint. The formula MAP = (SBP + 2×DBP)/3 approximates this time-weighting and is accurate at normal heart rates.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Cerebral Perfusion Pressure (CPP) Calculator [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/cerebral-perfusion-pressure-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Cerebral Perfusion Pressure (CPP) Calculator." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/cerebral-perfusion-pressure-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Cerebral Perfusion Pressure (CPP) Calculator," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/cerebral-perfusion-pressure-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_cerebral_perfusion_pressure_calculator, title = {Cerebral Perfusion Pressure (CPP) Calculator}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/cerebral-perfusion-pressure-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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