Cushing reflex

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Synonyms
vasopressor response, Cushing reaction, Cushing effect, Cushing phenomenon

The Cushing reflex is a physiological response of the nervous system to an acute increase in intracranial pressure (ICP), resulting in the Cushing triad of increased pulse pressure (rising systolic pressure, falling diastolic pressure), bradycardia, and irregular breathing[^2]. The reflex serves to maintain cerebral perfusion in the setting of elevated intracranial pressure.

Historical background

The association was described in 1901 by the American neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing. However, similar experiments had already been conducted decades earlier by other scientists, including Paul Cramer, Ernst von Bergmann, Ernst von Leyden, Georg Althann, Friedrich Jolly, Friedrich Pagenstecher, Henri Duret, Bernard Naunyn, and Julius Schreiber. Cushing initially failed to cite the work of his predecessors. Nevertheless, Cushing investigated the brain’s response to compression more thoroughly than earlier researchers and provided a better explanation for the pathophysiology of the phenomenon named after him[^1].

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Edit · Alaric Steinmetz · (+32 −28)
  • Text changed: “The Cushing reflex is a physiological response of the nervous system to an acute increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) , which leads to the Cushing triad of increased pulse pressure (systolic rising, diastolic falling), bradycardia, and irregular breathing[^2]. The reflex serves to maintain cerebral perfusion at elevated intracranial pressure .”“The Cushing reflex is a physiological response of the nervous system to an acute increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) , resulting in the Cushing triad of increased pulse pressure (rising systolic pressure, falling diastolic pressure), bradycardia, and irregular breathing[^2]. The reflex serves to maintain cerebral perfusion in the setting of elevated intracranial pressure .”
  • Text changed: “Historical”“Historical background”
  • Text changed: “The association was described in 1901 by the American neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing. However, similar experiments had been conducted decades earlier by other scientists such as Paul Cramer, Ernst von Bergmann, Ernst von Leyden, Georg Althann, Friedrich Jolly, Friedrich Pagenstecher, Henri Duret, Bernard Naunyn, and Julius Schreiber. Initially, Cushing failed to cite the work of his predecessors. Nevertheless, Cushing examined the brain's response to compression more closely than previous researchers and offered a better explanation for the pathophysiology of the phenomenon named after him[^1].”“The association was described in 1901 by the American neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing. However, similar experiments had already been conducted decades earlier by other scientists, including Paul Cramer, Ernst von Bergmann, Ernst von Leyden, Georg Althann, Friedrich Jolly, Friedrich Pagenstecher, Henri Duret, Bernard Naunyn, and Julius Schreiber. Cushing initially failed to cite the work of his predecessors. Nevertheless, Cushing investigated the brain’s response to compression more thoroughly than earlier researchers and provided a better explanation for the pathophysiology of the phenomenon named after him[^1].”

Article created on · Alaric Steinmetz

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