Death Rattle: reassuring harbinger of imminent death or a perfect example of inadequacies in evidence-based practice

Watts, Tessa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1201-5192, Willis, Derek, Noble, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5425-2383 and Johnston, Bridget 2019. Death Rattle: reassuring harbinger of imminent death or a perfect example of inadequacies in evidence-based practice. Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care 13 (4) , pp. 380-383. 10.1097/SPC.0000000000000463

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Abstract

Purpose of review Death is the inevitable consequence of life. Although clinicians are unlikely to accurately pinpoint when death is likely to occur in the people they care for, the death in a person with a diagnosis of malignant and nonmalignant tends to involve a period of predictable progressive clinical and functional deterioration. During this time, it is common for death rattle to occur. Due to its presentation, death rattle can cause stress and distress to caregivers. This often prompts clinicians to consider medical interventions that are not only ineffective in treating the problem but may also do harm. Recent findings There is a dearth of research related to the management of death rattle. Summary The article discusses the existing evidence in the management of death rattle, considerations for clinicians in the absence of reliable evidence and suggests areas for future research.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Healthcare Sciences Medicine
Publisher:	Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
ISSN:	1751-4258
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	9 September 2019
Date of Acceptance:	22 August 2019
Last Modified:	07 Nov 2023 03:08
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/125305

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