Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCalculating Coronary Perfusion PressureCPP and Cardiac ArreestRegulating Coronary Blood FlowFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Calculating Coronary Perfusion Pressure
CPP and Cardiac Arreest
Regulating Coronary Blood Flow
Frequently Asked Questions
Coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) is a measure of how well blood flows within the heart. The metric is used to monitor the transit of blood through the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries are blood vessels responsible for supplying your heart with oxygen.
If your CPP is low, then this may indicate that your heart is not receiving enough nutrients to function well. CPP needs to be maintained at a specific level in order for the heart to function properly.
If you have heart disease, especiallycoronary artery diseaseorheart failure, then understanding how CPP works may be helpful.
This article provides details on CPP calculation and regulation.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
Formula for Calculating CCPCPP = Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) - Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure (PCWP)
Formula for Calculating CCP
CPP = Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) - Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure (PCWP)
To calculate your CPP you need to know your:
These two variables can be measured and subtracted to determine the CPP.
CPP will naturally change with different heart diseases, likecoronary artery diseaseorheart failure.
Problems occur when CPP is low because this is a sign that the heart is not receiving enough blood flow. If your heart is not receiving enough blood flow then it can become irritated and in some cases,ischemia—or tissue damage—can occur.
What Is Ischemia?Ischemia is damage that occurs in the heart when the cells in the heart do not have enough oxygen or blood flow. If your heart suffers a large amount of ischemia then it can stop beating—an event known as a cardiac arrest.
What Is Ischemia?
Ischemia is damage that occurs in the heart when the cells in the heart do not have enough oxygen or blood flow. If your heart suffers a large amount of ischemia then it can stop beating—an event known as a cardiac arrest.
CPP can help doctors understand if a heart is at risk for going into cardiac arrest. If a person does have cardiac arrest, then a major goal ofCPRand other resuscitation measures is to increase CPP.
CPR and CPPThe goal of CPR is to maintain adequate blood circulation until the cause of the cardiac arrest can be treated (typically, with defibrillation). The minimum CPP needed to adequately perfuse the heart during CPR is approximately 15 mmHg.
CPR and CPP
The goal of CPR is to maintain adequate blood circulation until the cause of the cardiac arrest can be treated (typically, with defibrillation). The minimum CPP needed to adequately perfuse the heart during CPR is approximately 15 mmHg.
Coronary blood flow is extremely important for your heart to function well.
Medications such as nitrates (usually in the form of pills that dissolve under your tongue) are commonly used to relax the coronary arteries.Nitrate medications can help ensure blood flow is efficient through the coronary arteries.
Invasive treatments such as mechanical devices are sometimes used in the hospital in order to perfuse the coronary arteries.
When someone is very ill, devices calledintra-aortic balloon pumpsmay be used to help pump blood through the coronaries. The intra-aortic balloon pump sits just outside of the heart in the aorta and pushes blood into the coronary arteries when the heart is weak. Pump devices are not permanent however and are only used when someone is in critical condition.
What factors affect CPP?
How do you calculate CPP?
CPP is calculated using your diastolic blood pressure, the lower number on a blood pressure cuff, and also your pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP). Normal PCWP values range between 4 to 12 mmHg.
A Word From Verywell
If you have recently been diagnosed with coronary artery disease, it can be alarming to learn that you have heart disease. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to improve heart health such as:
Making healthy changes can significantly improve heart function and overall health.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Otlewski MP, Geddes LA, Pargett M, Babbs CF.Methods for calculating coronary perfusion pressure during CPR.Cardiovasc Eng; 9(3):98-103.American Heart Association.Types of heart medications.Lo N, Magnus Ohman E.Mechanical circulatory support in st-elevation myocardial infarction. In: Watson TJ, Ong PJ, Tcheng JE, eds.Primary Angioplasty: A Practical Guide. Springer; 2018.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Otlewski MP, Geddes LA, Pargett M, Babbs CF.Methods for calculating coronary perfusion pressure during CPR.Cardiovasc Eng; 9(3):98-103.American Heart Association.Types of heart medications.Lo N, Magnus Ohman E.Mechanical circulatory support in st-elevation myocardial infarction. In: Watson TJ, Ong PJ, Tcheng JE, eds.Primary Angioplasty: A Practical Guide. Springer; 2018.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Otlewski MP, Geddes LA, Pargett M, Babbs CF.Methods for calculating coronary perfusion pressure during CPR.Cardiovasc Eng; 9(3):98-103.American Heart Association.Types of heart medications.Lo N, Magnus Ohman E.Mechanical circulatory support in st-elevation myocardial infarction. In: Watson TJ, Ong PJ, Tcheng JE, eds.Primary Angioplasty: A Practical Guide. Springer; 2018.
Otlewski MP, Geddes LA, Pargett M, Babbs CF.Methods for calculating coronary perfusion pressure during CPR.Cardiovasc Eng; 9(3):98-103.
American Heart Association.Types of heart medications.
Lo N, Magnus Ohman E.Mechanical circulatory support in st-elevation myocardial infarction. In: Watson TJ, Ong PJ, Tcheng JE, eds.Primary Angioplasty: A Practical Guide. Springer; 2018.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
