To systematically evaluate the clinical effects of artificial back percussion sputum excretion.

Randomized controlled trial (RCT) on artificial back percussion sputum excretion and other methods to promote sputum excretion were included by searching the Cochrane Library, Pubmed, FMRS, Ovid, BMJ, ClinicalKey, Springer for R&D, CNKI and WanFang data from setting up the database to November 2017. Two researchers screened documents, extracted data, evaluated the quality of included documentson their own. The RevMan 5.3 software was used to meta-analysis. The outcome indexes which failed to carry out Meta-analysis were conducted descriptive analysis.

A total of 10 RCTs were included involving 541 patients. Meta-analysis results showed that the artificial back percussion could increase the volume of sputum in 24 hours [WMD=2.17, 95%CI (1.50, 2.84) , P<0.000 01], improve patients' degree of blood oxygen saturation [WMD=2.68, 95%CI (2.36, 2.99) , P<0.000 01], reduce breathing rate [WMD=-2.56, 95%CI (-3.06, -2.05) , P<0.000 01], improve blood oxygen partial pressure (PaO₂) [WMD=8.07, 95%CI (6.19, 9.95) , P<0.000 01]as well as partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂) [WMD=-3.77, 95%CI (-5.51, -2.03) , P<0.000 01], decrease the frequency of cough [WMD=-2.46, 95%CI (-3.26, -1.66) , P<0.000 01]and the fade time of lung rale [WMD=-4.59, 95%CI (-5.36, -3.82) , P<0.000 01] compared with non-intervention group.

The artificial back percussion sputum excretion has initial effects on improving the effects of sputum excretion, breathing related indexes such as degree of blood oxygen saturation, breathing rate blood PaO₂ as well as PaCO₂, decrease the frequency of cough and the fade time of lung rale.

Meta analysis; Artificial back percussion; Sputum excretion; Nursing intervention