Cushing's Triad

[chbare]

I have taken care of patients involved in MVC's that sustained blunt chest trauma, (Impact to Steering Wheel) that developed tamponade.

Take care,

chbare.

[AZCEP]

As have I, due to vascular rupture. The patient that ruptures a ventricle will be pulseless on presentation. A vascular injury will be able to generate pulses for a period before the fluid builds up in the pericardial sac.

Making blanket statements in any one direction is a mistake. Penetrating and blunt trauma are equally capable of creating the problems that present with either Beck's or Cushing's triads.