Cushing's Triad in ICP: Pathophysiology, Mnemonic, & More

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Today’s topic is all About Cushing’s Triad (triada de cushing): Definition, Components, Symptoms, Causes, Pathophysiology, Mnemonic, and Treatment.

Are you looking for trustworthy, detailed information about Cushing Triad – a classic sign of increased intracranial pressure? This is one of the most popular triads in the medical world.

Whether you are a nurse who is searching for a useful guide about Cushing’s triad for USMLE and other exams, or you may be a paramedic, medical personnel, or anybody interested in medical terms, today’s topic is just for you. So, let’s begin.

Cushing’s Triad is a characteristic sign of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Beck’s Triad is a characteristic sign of acute cardiac tamponade.

What is Cushing’s Triad?

Also known as the increased ICP triad, Cushing’s triad is defined as a set of three clinical signs of increased intracranial pressure (ICP), which includes bradycardia, bradypnea, and hypertension.

Cushing’s triad is the manifestation of Cushing reflex (also referred to as the Cushing effect, the Cushing reaction, the Cushing’s phenomenon, or Cushing’s Law) – physiological nervous system response to increased intracranial pressure.

Cushing’s triad is also known as the brain herniation triad. It is the signs/symptoms developed by Cushing’s reflex.

Cushing Triad is important, but a late sign of raised intracranial pressure (ICP). The doctors, paramedics, and nurses must be looking for this condition in patients who have had a recent head injury, brain injury, neurosurgery, or anyone with a suddenly altered level of consciousness. It usually serves as a warning sign of brain herniation

Cushing’s reflex (and Cushing’s triad) can also be seen in the intravenous administration of epinephrine and other drugs of similar nature.

Whenever a Cushing reflex occurs, there is a high probability of death in seconds to minutes. As a result, a Cushing reflex indicates a need for immediate care. Since its presence is a good detector of high ICP, it is often useful in the medical field, particularly during surgery.

Components of Cushing Triad Nursing Guide USMLE

Cushing’s triad is a clinical triad that consists of the following vital signs:

Bradypnea – a change in respiration, often irregular and deep, such as Cheyne stokes
Systolic hypertension– Widening pulse pressure (the difference between systemic and diastolic blood pressure). Systolic blood pressure will usually be over 180mmhg
Bradycardia (slow heart rate) <50bpm

Other Signs and Symptoms of ICP (Cushing’s triad)

Along with the 3 primary vital signs of Cushing’s triad, the following signs and symptoms are also common in ICP.

Headache
Fixed dilated pupil (unilateral in early-stage, bilateral in the late stage of brain herniation)
Diplopia (double vision)
Seizures
Nausea and vomiting
ALOC (altered level of consciousness)

History and Etymology of Cushing Triad

The phenomenon of Cushing’s triad was first described by an American neurosurgeon, Harvey Williams Cushing (born April 8, 1869, Cleveland—died Oct. 7, 1939, New Haven, Conn., U.S.) in 1901. He was the leading neurosurgeon of the early 20th century. Cushing’s Triad is named after him.

Harvey Williams Cushing graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1895 and then studied for four years at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore.

He worked as a surgeon at Johns Hopkins from 1902 to 1912 and thenceforth he was surgeon-in-chief at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston and professor of surgery at the Harvard Medical School. He joined the faculty of Yale University in 1933.

Cushing developed several operating procedures and techniques that are still basic to the surgery of the brain. He became the leading expert in the diagnosis and treatment of intracranial tumors.

His research on the pituitary body (1912) gained him an international reputation, and he was the first to ascribe to pituitary malfunction a type of obesity of the face and trunk now known as Cushing’s disease, or Cushing’s syndrome.

He wrote numerous scientific works and received the Pulitzer Prize in 1926 for his Life of Sir William Osler (1925).

Causes of Cushing’s Triad

The immediate cause of Cushing’s triad is increased intracranial pressure. There are many conditions to increase ICP. Common causes are:

Brain tumor
Traumatic brain injury
Stroke
Seizure
Aneurysm rupture and subarachnoid hemorrhage
Encephalitis (irritation and swelling, or inflammation, of the brain)
Hydrocephalus (increased fluid around the brain)
Hypertensive brain hemorrhage
Intraventricular hemorrhage
Meningitis
Subdural hematoma
Epidural hematoma

Traumatic Brain Injury and Cushing’s Triad

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious global public health problem. Early diagnosis and management of severe TBI are crucial to reducing mortality and morbidity.

The efficacy of intracranial pressure monitoring in pediatric patients with severe TBI remains controversial; however, intracranial hypertension is associated with high mortality and worse neurological outcomes.

If intracranial pressure increases after TBI, systemic blood pressure rises as a compensatory mechanism to maintain cerebral perfusion pressure.

Cushing’s triad of respiratory irregularity, hypertension, and bradycardia is a classic sign of intracranial hypertension.

Hypotension in pediatric patients with severe TBI is also associated with poor outcomes due to decreased cerebral perfusion pressure. (Cerebral hemodynamic predictors of poor 6-month Glasgow Outcome Score in severe pediatric traumatic brain injury.

A study “Cushing’s sign and severe traumatic brain injury in children after blunt trauma: a nationwide retrospective cohort study in Japan” done by Tetsuya Yumoto et. al. concluded that Cushing’s triad after blunt trauma was significantly associated with BI-NSI in school-age children and young adolescents.

Cushing’s Triad Pathophysiology (Patho of Cushings triad)

How increased ICP leads to systolic hypertension?

Traumatic brain injury and ICP leads to cerebral ischemia as a result of hypoxia and decreased cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). To compensate for the hypoxia the activated sympathetic nervous system stimulates alpha 1 and beta 1 adrenergic receptors.

The brain thinks it is helping but can actually worsen the problem. Increased blood flow to the brain causes further bleeding, swelling, and resulting ICP. The compensatory mechanisms get caught in a continuous positive feedback loop.

The body attempts to maintain mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP).

MABP = Diastolic BP + (Systolic BP – Diastolic BP)/3

CPP = MABP – CP

Normal MABP is 70-100 mmHg and normal ICP is 0-15 mmHg. Herniation occurs at a pressure above 25 mmHg. Normal CPP is 50-70 mmHg.

Why there is a slow heart rate (bradycardia)?

Bradycardia is another vital sign of Cushing’s triad. Increased ICP stimulates the vagus nerve, which contributes to a drop in the heart rate. In case of severe herniation, pressure on the medulla oblongata can cause a decrease in heart rate as well.

What causes irregular respirations?

Increased systolic blood pressure and increased intracranial pressure give rise to brain herniation. The brain herniation exerts pressure on the medulla oblongata (brain stem) – the respiratory center of the brain.

The continuous pressure on it disrupts the function of the medulla oblongata and as a consequence, respirations become irregular. The disturbed respiration patterns commonly seen in Cushing’s triad are:

Increase and decrease in the rate of respiration with periods of apnea
Cheyne stokes respiration
“Pre death” pattern
Prolonged inspiratory phase followed by a shortened expiratory phase
Biot/Ataxic Respirations
Irregular with episodes of apnea

Cushing Triad Vs Shock

The best trick for remembering Cushing’s triad is to think of it as the opposite of body response to shock. In shock, there will be decreased blood pressure (hypotension), tachycardia, and tachypnea.

But in Cushing’s triad increased systolic blood pressure (hypertension), bradycardia, and irregular respirations are common.

cushings-triad-vs-shock — Cushing’s Triad Vs Shock

Cushing’s Triad Treatment

Best and the only treatment for any patient with ICP/Cushing’s Triad is rapid transport to the definitive care/surgery unit because it is a medical emergency. The maximum on-scene time should be limited to 10 mins. If ICP is accompanied by an active seizure, it should be treated.

Spinal Precautions

Patients presenting with Cushing’s Triad have a high incidence of concomitant spinal cord injuries. It is necessary to maintain manual spinal immobilization until fully c-spined.

Some studies have found that the placement of a c collar can cause an increase in ICP. C collars are generally not form-fitting as it is placed too tightly which might reduce venous blood return away from the brain.

Oxygenation

Maintaining ETCO₂ of 35-40 is vital as ETCO₂less than 25 increases the chance of mortality. As the patient can’t regulate breathing, he should be assisted in ventilation.

The patient with Cushing’s triad is likely to be completely unresponsive and the intubation may become difficult or impossible. Try to place the ET tube if possible.

Hypotension

Hypotension is unlikely in the patient with Cushing’s triad. Any patient with other signs of ICP that presents with hypotension should raise your suspicion of Hypovolemia, internal or external hemorrhage, spinal injury, or distributive shock.

Posture and Positioning

The patient with Cushing’s triad should be positioned with the head and trunk elevated 30-45 degrees to assist with the venous return from the head. Similarly, patients on a backboard should be elevated 15-30 degrees to facilitate drainage.

Studies have suggested the use of chemical sedation in patients that are aggressive or agitated due to head injury. Research has shown that increased stress and activity will increase ICP.

Cushing’s Triad Mnemonic

Let’s summarize Cushing’s triad in increased intracranial pressure (ICP) with the following question:

Question 1

Which of the given options best describes Cushing Triad?

Answer Choices

Hypertension, JVD, muffled heart sounds
Hypotension, JVD, muffled heart sounds
Hypertension, bradycardia, irregular breathing
Fever, Pain, Jaundice

Explanation

The Correct Answer is C – Hypertension, bradycardia, irregular breathing

Answer A – is incorrect. Cushing’s triad includes hypertension, bradycardia, irregular breathing

Answer B – is incorrect. It describes Beck’s Triad in pt. with cardiac tamponade.

Answer D – is incorrect. It describes Charcot’s Triad in pt. with ascending cholangitis

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Sources

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