Scenario: You have a patient with intracranial bleed. ICP monitor has been inserted by neurosurgical service. You have been asked by nurse to clarify confusion about the level of transducer for Mean Arterial pressure (MAP), so correct CPP (Cerebral Perfusion Pressure) can be calculated. What is the answer?
Answer: To calculate CPP, tansducer should be "zeroed" at the height of the head to calculate MAP. There is a misconception that transducer should always be leveled / zeroed at heart level. Its not true. For Cerebral Perfusion Presuure calculation, MAP should be calculated with transducer at head (or ear) level.
Cerebral Perfusion Pressure (CPP) is defined as the difference between the Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) and the Intracranial Pressure (ICP).
CPP = MAP - ICP
