Understanding and responding to the death rattle in dying patients.

Medsurg Nurs

Palliative Care Services Department, Midwest Palliative and Hospice CareCenter, Glenview, IL, USA.

Published: May 2009

AI Article Synopsis

  • Medical-surgical nurses often care for dying patients who show various end-of-life symptoms, including the "death rattle," which is the sound caused by excess secretions during breathing.
  • Both medication and non-medical interventions can help alleviate symptoms for these patients.
  • Effective communication and empathy towards the patients' loved ones are crucial parts of providing comprehensive care.

Article 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.

Download full-text PDF

Source

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

death rattle
8
dying patients
8
understanding responding
4
responding death
4
rattle dying
4
patients medical-surgical
4
medical-surgical nurses
4
nurses inpatient
4
inpatient settings
4
settings encounter
4

Similar Publications

Context: Research has documented common respiratory changes at the end of life for hospice patients. Some studies have noted these symptoms as distressing and challenging for families, and as a potential reason for emergency room visits and hospice benefit revocation. However, the experiences and emotions of family members regarding these respiratory changes in the final days, particularly when they are alone in a home setting, are not well documented.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Evidence based guidelines for treatment of physical symptoms during the last days of life in older people are not available.

Aim: We wanted to synthesize the existing evidence on the pharmacological treatment of pain, dyspnea, death rattle, fever, nausea, and vomiting during the last days of life in older people to develop recommendations that can help guide clinical practice.

Design: A systematic review was conducted (PROSPERO #CRD42023406100) and reported in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Brown rot is the most important fungal disease affecting stone fruit and it is mainly caused by , and . spp. are necrotrophic plant pathogens with the ability to induce plant cell death by the secretion of different phytotoxic molecules, including proteins or metabolites that are collectively referred to as necrotrophic effectors (NEs).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Cancer patients often experience a condition called "death rattle," which is noisy breathing caused by secretions in the airway.
  • In a study with 200 cancer patients, more than half had this condition at some point, but only a third had it right when they died.
  • The presence of this noise tended to increase as patients got closer to dying, but it didn’t always mean they were in pain or restless at the same time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!