Which sign is the triad of high blood pressure, slow heart rate, and irregular breathing associated with head injury?

• A. Coup-Contrecoup
• B. Cushing Triad
• C. Decorticate Posturing
• D. Status Epilepticus

Answer: (B)

The main concept here is recognizing the Cushing triad, a set of findings that signals rising intracranial pressure after head injury. The triad includes high systolic blood pressure with a relatively narrow pulse pressure, a slow heart rate (bradycardia), and irregular or abnormal breathing. This pattern happens because the brain tries to maintain blood flow despite swelling inside the skull: as intracranial pressure climbs, the body increases arterial pressure to preserve cerebral perfusion, the baroreceptor reflex slows the heart, and brainstem dysfunction brings about irregular respirations. It’s a warning sign that further brain injury and potential herniation may be developing, so it’s important in acute assessment and management. The other options describe different phenomena: coup-contrecoup relates to the pattern of brain contusion from impact, decorticate posturing reflects severe damage to motor pathways, and status epilepticus is prolonged seizure activity—not a triad tied to intracranial pressure in head trauma.