This Killip classification tool is used to assess the severity of a patient's heart failure by examining clinical signs and estimating the risk of death within 30 days. By selecting one of four possible descriptions of a patient's clinical presentation, you can quickly determine the associated Killip class and its mortality risk.

- If the patient exhibits "No clinical signs of cardiac decompensation," they are classified as Killip I, which correlates with a 2.8% risk of 30-day mortality. This situation represents the lowest risk and indicates a relatively stable cardiac status without signs of acute stress.

- Selecting "S3 gallop, basal rales on auscultation and venous hypertension" corresponds to Killip II, suggesting moderate impairment with an 8.8% risk of dying within 30 days. The presence of these specific symptoms indicates some level of heart failure progression.

- A classification of "Acute pulmonary edema" identifies the patient as Killip III, with a 14.4% mortality risk over 30 days. This reflects a severe level of heart failure, as acute pulmonary edema implies significant fluid build-up in the lungs.

- In the most critical scenario, "Cardiogenic shock," the patient is categorized as Killip IV, also corresponding to a 14.4% 30-day mortality risk. Cardiogenic shock involves critically compromised heart function, leading to inadequate circulation and oxygenation throughout the body.

Choosing the appropriate classification enables health professionals to rapidly assess patient risk and ensure appropriate treatment is prioritized, aligning clinical assessment with expected outcomes.

The Killip Classification is a system used in patients with myocardial infarction, specifically to stratify risk and predict mortality. It was named after Dr. Kimball Killip, who first introduced it in 1967. The classification is based on physical examination findings and is used to estimate the severity of heart failure in patients who have had a heart attack. 

The Killip Classification consists of four classes:

- Killip Class I: No clinical signs of heart failure.
- Killip Class II: Rales or crackles in the lungs, an S3, and elevated jugular venous pressure.
- Killip Class III: Acute pulmonary edema.
- Killip Class IV: Cardiogenic shock or hypotension, and evidence of peripheral vasoconstriction (oliguria, cyanosis, and sweating).

The higher the Killip class, the higher the risk of mortality within the first 30 days of the myocardial infarction. This classification helps clinicians to identify high-risk patients who may benefit from more aggressive treatment. 

There are no specific exclusion criteria for the use of the Killip Classification, but it is less applicable in patients without myocardial infarction or in those with heart failure due to other causes.

Killip classification for heart failure

Prognostic importance of physical examination for heart failure in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes: the enduring value of Killip classification.