Which combination describes the Cushing triad associated with raised intracranial pressure?

• A. Fever, tachypnea, hypotension
• B. Hypotension, tachycardia, regular respirations
• C. Hypertension, bradycardia, irregular respirations
• D. Hypoglycemia, pupil dilation, coma

Answer: (C)

Rising intracranial pressure often produces the Cushing triad, a warning pattern of brainstem involvement. This triad consists of hypertension (usually with a widened pulse pressure), bradycardia, and irregular respirations. The high ICP prompts a sympathetic surge to raise blood pressure to maintain cerebral perfusion, while baroreceptor reflex slows the heart, and the brainstem becomes disrupted enough to cause irregular breathing. So the combination that fits is high blood pressure with a slow heart rate and irregular breathing. The other patterns (fever with rapid breathing and low blood pressure; low blood pressure with rapid heart rate and regular breathing; or signs like hypoglycemia with pupil changes) do not reflect this brainstem-driven response to increased intracranial pressure.