Peter Drier, a bank technology manager in New York City, was blindsided after neck surgery by a $117,000 bill from a doctor he did not recall meeting. Credit Joshua Bright for The New York Times.
Cushing's triad, which includes bradycardia, hypertension (with widened pulse pressure), and a change in respiratory pattern, is seen in head injuries with increased intracranial pressure (ICP).
A high pulse pressure combined with bradycardia and an irregular breathing pattern is associated with increased intracranial pressure and should be reported to a physician immediately. This is known as Cushing's triad and can be seen in patients after head trauma related to intracranial hemorrhage or edema.