Cushing reflex is the clinician's stethoscope to detect increase in intracranial pressure just from the vital signs...Yup, that's right! Sometimes, a good physical exam can save lives... | Medicosis Perfectionalis

Cushing’s triad: Hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular, slow breathing in the setting of head trauma point toward increased intracranial pressure. In this scenario, the patient fell and has a hematoma to the right side of the head. The right pupil is dilated and not reactive, which signifies herniation. This means that the brain is under pressure and has shifted internally, in this case causing pressure on and dysfunction of the cranial nerve that controls pupil constriction (cranial nerve 3)