PVR Calculator
Pulmonary Vascular Resistance (PVR) measures how much the pulmonary vasculature resists blood flow. It is a key hemodynamic parameter used to diagnose and classify pulmonary hypertension. Enter your right heart catheterization values to calculate PVR in both Wood units and CGS units.
PVR is calculated with the formula: PVR = (mPAP - PCWP) / CO, where mPAP is mean pulmonary artery pressure, PCWP is pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and CO is cardiac output in liters per minute. The result is expressed in Wood units (mmHg/L/min). Multiply by 80 to convert to dyn·s·cm⁻⁵.
A normal PVR is below 2 Wood units (160 dyn·s·cm⁻⁵). The 2022 ESC/ERS guidelines define pulmonary hypertension as mPAP > 20 mmHg, and pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension requires both mPAP > 20 mmHg and PVR > 2 Wood units. The transpulmonary gradient (mPAP minus PCWP) helps distinguish pre-capillary from post-capillary causes.
PVR is measured during right heart catheterization, the gold standard for diagnosing pulmonary hypertension. Cardiac output is typically determined by thermodilution or the Fick method. This calculator is intended as a quick reference for healthcare professionals reviewing catheterization data.