The Signs and Symptoms of Impending Death
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Abstract
The symptoms and signs of impending death were a warning sign for doctors to communicate with relatives and family to optimally manage patient care . If doctors were not aware of symptom and sign of impending death , they may not be able to provide good end of life care. Therefore ,reviewer conducted search of PubMed, website ,handbook and palliative medicine book for the signs and symptoms of impending death that found the most common symptoms for impending death were dyspnea, pain, death rattle, confusion, loss of appetite , lack of energy, constipation, nausea and vomiting . The specific physical sign for impending death within 48-72 hours were nonreactive pupils, decreased response to verbal and visual stimuli ,inability to close eyelids ,drooping of the nasolabial fold ,hyperextension of the neck , apnea , Cheyne stokes breathing, respiration with mandibular movement ,low blood pressure, low oxygen saturation. These symptoms and signs may be useful in anticipating symptoms in the last days and in preparing families for signs of impending death.
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