Editing Cushing reflex (section)

{{Short description|Physiological nervous system response to increased intracranial pressure}}
'''Cushing reflex''' (also referred to as the '''vasopressor response''', the '''Cushing effect''', the '''Cushing reaction''', the '''Cushing phenomenon''', the '''Cushing response''', or '''Cushing's Law''') is a physiological nervous system response to increased [[intracranial pressure]] (ICP) that results in [[Cushing's triad]] of increased blood pressure, irregular breathing, and [[bradycardia]].<ref name=ayling>{{cite journal | last =Ayling | first = J| title =Managing head injuries| journal =Emergency Medical Services | volume =31 | issue = 8| pages =42 | year =2002 | pmid =12224233 }}</ref> It is usually seen in the terminal stages of acute [[head injury]] and may indicate imminent [[brain herniation]]. It can also be seen after the intravenous administration of [[epinephrine]] and similar drugs.<ref name=Ogilvy>{{cite journal | last =Ogilvy | first = CS|author2=Dubois AB| title =Effect of increased intracranial pressure on blood pressure, heart rate, respiration and catecholamine levels in neonatal and adult rabbits. | journal =Biology of the Neonate | volume =52 | issue = 6| pages =327–336 | year =1987 | doi = 10.1159/000242728| pmid =3435736 }}</ref> It was first described in detail by American [[neurosurgery|neurosurgeon]] [[Harvey Cushing]] in 1901.<ref name=Cushing>{{cite journal | last =Cushing | first = H| title = Concerning a definite regulatory mechanism of the vasomotor centre which controls blood pressure during cerebral compression | journal = Bull Johns Hopkins Hosp.| volume =12 | pages =290–2 | year =1901 | url =http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924069247447;view=1up;seq=336 }}</ref>