Cushing’s Triad vs Shock

Cushing’s triad (Hypertension, bradycardia and irregular respirations) is one of the classic sign for elevated intracranial pressure. Hypertension is due to maintain cerebral perfusion pressure (Cerebral perfusion pressure = Mean arterial pressure – Intracranial pressure), when ICP increases cerebral perfusion must somehow maintained above 50 mm Hg). Bradycardia is a reflex response to hypertension and irregular respiration is caused by impaired brainstem function.