Emergency Medical Minute

Contributor: Travis Barlock MD Education Pearls: The Cushing Reflex is a physiologic response to elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) Cushing’s Triad: widened pulse pressure (systolic hypertension), bradycardia, and irregular respirations Increased ICP results from systolic hypertension, which causes a parasympathetic reflex to drop heart rate, leading to Cushing’s Triad.  The Cushing Reflex is a sign of herniation Treatment includes: Hypertonic saline is comparable to mannitol and preferable in patients with hypovolemia or hyponatremia Give 250-500mL of 3%NaCl 20% Mannitol - given at a dose of 0.5-1 g/kg Each additional dose of 0.1 g/kg reduces ICP by 1 mm Hg 23.4% hypertonic saline is more often given in the neuro ICU 8.4% Sodium bicarbonate lowers ICP for 6 hours without causing metabolic acidosis Non-pharmacological interventions: Raise the head of the bed to 30-45 degrees Remove the c-collar to improve blood flow to the head Hyperventilation induces hypocapnia, whic