Death rattle
Sound often produced as someone nears death
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ToursExplore Lably’s 3D toursIt 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.
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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 or anti-muscarinic drugs to reduce secretions, which have side effects.