According to the Killip classification of heart failure in acute myocardial infarction, a patient with frank pulmonary edema but systolic blood pressure of 110 mmHg belongs to which class?

• A Killip class I
• B Killip class II
• C Killip class IV
• D Killip class III ✓

Explanation

Killip class III is defined by frank pulmonary edema with rales involving more than half the lung fields, regardless of blood pressure. Class I has no signs of failure, class II has rales or an S3 gallop confined to less than half the lung fields, and class IV is cardiogenic shock with hypotension and evidence of hypoperfusion. Mortality rises progressively across classes, which is why the classification remains used for risk stratification in STEMI.

Reference: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 21st ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.