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Death rattle

Sound often produced as someone nears death

Sound often produced as someone nears death

A death rattle is noisy breathing that often occurs in someone near death. Accumulation of fluids such as saliva and bronchial secretions in the throat and upper airways are the cause. Those who are dying may lose their ability to swallow and may have increased production of bronchial secretions, resulting in such an accumulation. Usually, two or three days earlier, symptoms of approaching death can be observed, such as saliva accumulating in the throat, difficulty taking even a spoonful of water, shortness of breath, and rapid chest movement. While a death rattle is a strong indication that someone is near death, it can also be produced by other problems that cause interference with the swallowing reflex, such as brain injuries.

It is sometimes misinterpreted as the sound of the person choking to death or gargling. Notably, death rattle is a separate phenomenon from agonal respiration, ataxic respiration, and Kussmaul respiration.

Timing

This symptom most commonly appears sometime during the last 24 hours of the person's life, although some live somewhat longer.

Management

The dying person is usually unaware of the noisy breathing and is not disturbed by it, but some healthcare providers attempt to minimize the sound for the emotional comfort of family members and caregivers.

References

References

  1. "When Death Is Near". Merck.
  2. (2008). "Interventions for noisy breathing in patients near to death". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
  3. "Death Rattle and Oral Secretions". End-of-Life/Palliative Education Resource Center.
  4. Whited, Lacey. (2024). "Abnormal Respirations". StatPearls Publishing.
  5. (2015). "Oxford Textbook of Palliative Nursing". Oxford University Press.
  6. Bennet, M. (October 2002). "Using anti-muscarinic drugs in the management of death rattle: Evidence-based guidelines for palliative care". Palliative Medicine.
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death sounds-by-type symptoms-and-signs:-respiratory-system
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