ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of digital acupressure plus mechanical sputum expectoration on the rehabilitation of patients with stroke-associated pneumonia. Method Forty-six patients with stroke-associated pneumonia were randomized into a treatment group of 22 cases and a control group of 24 cases. The treatment group was intervened by digital acupressure plus mechanical sputum expectoration, while the control group was by mechanical sputum expectoration alone. The simplified version of Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS), Fugl-Meyer assessment scale, and modified Barthel Index (BI) were adopted for evaluation before and after intervention. Result After treatment, CPIS, Fugl-Meyer and BI scores were changed significantly in both groups (P<0.01). There were significant differences in comparing the CPIS, Fugl-Meyer and BI scores between the two groups after intervention (P<0.05). After intervention, the two groups showed a negative correlation between CPIS score and Fugl-Meyer score, as well as between CPIS score and BI score. Conclusion Digital acupressure plus mechanical sputum expectoration can effectively improve the pulmonary symptoms in patients with stroke-associated pneumonia, benefiting the rehabilitation of the post-stroke patients.