Pink frothy sputum is a sign of which condition?

• A. Cardiac Tamponade
• B. Peripheral Edema
• C. Pink Frothy Sputum
• D. Atherosclerosis

Answer: (C)

Pink frothy sputum signals pulmonary edema from left-sided heart failure. When the left ventricle can’t pump effectively, pressure backs up into the lung's capillaries, causing fluid to flood the alveoli. This fluid mixes with air and surfactant, producing a foamy sputum that can appear pink due to the presence of red blood cells from capillary leakage. This sign is most characteristic of acute decompensated heart failure and helps distinguish it from conditions that don’t cause pulmonary edema. Cardiac tamponade affects heart filling and circulation but doesn’t typically present with pink frothy sputum; peripheral edema is a general sign of fluid overload without this sputum pattern; atherosclerosis is arterial plaque buildup and doesn’t directly produce pink frothy sputum.