What it means
A late response named after Harvey Cushing, the American neurosurgeon who described it. It happens when pressure inside the skull becomes so high that blood flow to the brainstem is threatened: the body raises blood pressure to push blood in, the heart slows and breathing becomes irregular. It is a sign of severe increased intracranial pressurein-truh-KRAY-nee-ul PRESH-erThe pressure inside the skull, made by the brain, the blood and the fluid around the brain.intra- insidecrani/o skull-al relating toFull entry and possible brain herniation.
For the nurse
Report it at once as an emergency. Keep the head of the bed raised about 30 degrees with the head straight, and continue neuro checks.
At a glance
| Also written | Cushing's triad, Cushing’s triad, Cushing reflex, Cushing response |
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Related terms
blood pressure
The force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries, written as systolic over diastolic in mm Hg.
bradycardia
A heart rate slower than normal; in an adult, fewer than 60 beats per minute.
intracranial pressure
The pressure inside the skull, made by the brain, the blood and the fluid around the brain.