Cushing's triad

Cushing's triad is the triad of hypertension, bradycardia and irregular respirations. It is sign of increased intracranial pressure. Other sources state that the triad is hypertention, bradycardia and widening pulse pressure (an increase in the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure over time).

Significance

Identification of the triad is important in emergency medicine because it suggests a cerebral hemorrhage in the setting of trauma or an enlarging space occupying lesion (e.g. brain tumor) and a possible impending herniation of the brain, which can be rapidly fatal.

Eponym

It is named after Harvey Williams Cushing (1869-1939), an American neurosurgeon.

See also

• Cushing reflex
• Cheyne-Stokes respiration

External links

• Cushing triad - whonamedit.comTemplate:Med-sign-stub