Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2018
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyHyoscine Butylbromide for the Management of Death Rattle: Sooner Rather Than Later.
Death rattle (DR) is a dramatic sign in the dying patient. Existing studies with anticholinergic agents are controversial, as this class of drugs has been commonly administered without considering the rationale of the mechanism of action. A meaningful use of these drugs may provide a better outcome. ⋯ The prophylactic use of HB is an efficient method to prevent DR, whereas the late administration produces a limited response, confirming data from traditional studies performed with anticholinergics. This could be considered a new paradigm to manage a difficult and dramatic sign, such as DR.