Understanding and responding to the death rattle in dying patients

Medsurg Nurs. 2009 Jan-Feb;18(1):17-21, 32; quiz 22.

Abstract

Medical-surgical nurses in inpatient settings may encounter dying patients who exhibit a number of symptoms during the end of life. One symptom, the death rattle, refers to the noise of excessive secretions present during the inspiratory and expiratory phases of respiration. Symptom improvement can be obtained with pharmacologic and non-pharmacological measures. Empathic communication with the patient's significant others also is an important component of care.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Attitude to Death
  • Cholinergic Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Cholinergic Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Communication
  • Cornified Envelope Proline-Rich Proteins
  • Empathy
  • Family / psychology
  • Humans
  • Kinesics
  • Nurse's Role*
  • Nursing Assessment
  • Professional-Family Relations
  • Receptors, Muscarinic / drug effects
  • Receptors, Muscarinic / physiology
  • Respiratory Sounds* / diagnosis
  • Respiratory Sounds* / drug effects
  • Respiratory Sounds* / etiology
  • Respiratory Sounds* / physiopathology
  • Respiratory System / metabolism*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Terminal Care / methods*
  • Terminal Care / psychology

Substances

  • Cholinergic Antagonists
  • Cornified Envelope Proline-Rich Proteins
  • Receptors, Muscarinic