A death rattle is noisy breathing that often occurs in someone near death. Accumulation of fluids such as

saliva Saliva (commonly referred as spit or drool) is an extracellular fluid produced and secreted by salivary glands in the mouth. In humans, saliva is around 99% water, plus electrolytes, mucus, white blood cells, epithelial cells (from which ...

and

bronchial A bronchus ( ; : bronchi, ) is a passage or airway in the lower respiratory tract that conducts Atmosphere of Earth, air into the lungs. The first or primary bronchi to branch from the trachea at the Carina of trachea, carina are the right main b ...

secretions in the throat and upper airways is the cause. Those who are dying may lose their ability to

swallow The swallows, martins, and saw-wings, or Hirundinidae are a family of passerine songbirds found around the world on all continents, including occasionally in Antarctica. Highly adapted to aerial feeding, they have a distinctive appearance. The ...

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 Shortness of breath (SOB), known as dyspnea (in AmE) or dyspnoea (in BrE), is an uncomfortable feeling of not being able to breathe well enough. The American Thoracic Society defines it as "a subjective experience of breathing discomfort that con ...

, 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 Choking, also known as foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO), is a phenomenon that occurs when breathing is impeded by a blockage inside of the respiratory tract. An obstruction that prevents oxygen from entering the lungs results in oxygen de ...

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. This may be done through repositioning the person, reducing the volume of IV fluids being given, or giving

anticholinergic Anticholinergics (anticholinergic agents) are substances that block the action of the acetylcholine (ACh) neurotransmitter at synapses in the central nervous system, central and peripheral nervous system. These agents inhibit the parasympatheti ...

or anti-muscarinic drugs to reduce secretions, which have side effects.

References

External links

Pulmonary Breath Sounds
a page that includes a death rattle sound clip (published by

East Tennessee State University East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is a public research university in Johnson City, Tennessee. It was historically part of the State University and Community College System of Tennessee under the Tennessee Board of Regents, but since 2016, ...

) {{DEFAULTSORT:Death Rattle Death Sounds by type Symptoms and signs: Respiratory system

Timing

Management

See also

References

External links