5th January 2024

A 67-year-old gentleman in the hospital is in the last few days of his life

A 67-year-old gentleman in the hospital is in the last few days of his life. He has developed a rattling chest, which you feel is secondary to a build-up of secretions. The patient is comfortable. His family are distressed at the sounds and wish for them to be controlled. The patient has been repositioned so that he is more upright and on one side, but the rattle has continued. What is the next best step in managing the secretions?

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.