Talk:Cushing's triad

The real Cushing's triad?
I've seen a couple of different versions for this one. Some seem to think it is: hypertension, bradycardia & wide pulse pressure (see and ).

There is agreement about the hypertension & bradycardia.

Based on a Google search, there seems to be some disagreement about the third sign:
 * A PubMed Emerg journal ... "ataxic respirations"
 * Another PubMed journal ... "bradypnea"
 * Whonamedit ... "irregular respirations"
 * Hawaii.edu ... "alteration in respiration."
 * Accessmedicine.com ... "irregular respirations"
 * allnurses.com ... "irregular respirations"
 * Bunch of med students ... "irregular Respirations"

I have the impression irregular respirations has the majority... and wins!

We learned widening of pulse pressure at U of T meds

Anyone have an authorative reference for this one...? Nephron T|C 16:02, 2 May 2007 (UTC)


 * Cushing spent much of his career studying the relationship between intracranial hypertension and the blood pressure and heart rate. I haven't been able to identify a seminal paper. JFW | T@lk  15:22, 26 October 2007 (UTC)


 * while widening pulse pressure can occur with the cushings reflex as a result of increased sympathetic signal, it is not part of the triad. the triad is what to look for after the reflex has occurred.  the triad involves the three readily identifiable signs of htn, bradycardia and irreg resps.  the pulse pressure info would fall under the broader sign of hypertension.  i am not saying that pp isnt part of the reflex, but i am saying its not part of the triad.  Brendan19 (talk) 21:01, 14 December 2008 (UTC)