What is the Death Rattle?

The death rattle is a term used to describe the gurgling or rattling noise made from the accumulation of fluid in the throat. This is often associated with the end of life, and it can often be misinterpreted as choking, which can be misidentified as the cause of death.

Some of the things you can do for death rattle is give an anticholinergic medication. This doesn’t get rid of already existing fluid, but it can prevent the formation of new fluid. Some of the medications given are scopolamine, hyoscine hydrobromide, and atropine. Other things you can do for the patient are provide oral care and suctioning.