OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the therapeutic effects of ambroxol hydrochloride in the treatment of secretory otitis media. METHODS: PubMed

Cochrane Central

EMBase

CNKI

CBM

VIP database and Wanfang database were retrieved to collect the clinical randomized controlled trials（ RCT） of ambroxol hydrochloride in the treatment of secretory otitis media（ the control group was treated with conventional treatment

while the study group received ambroxol hydrochloride on the basis of conventional treatment）. The retrieval time was from the establishment of the database to Nov. 2019. Meta analysis was performed by using Rev Man 5. 3 software. RESULTS: Totally 29 literature were collected

including 2 452 patients（ 2 536 ears）

with 1 180 cases in the control group and 1 272 cases in the study group. Meta analysis results showed that the treatment effect in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group

and the difference was statistically significant（ OR = 4. 09

95%CI = 3. 19-5. 23

Z = 11. 14

P<0. 000 01）.The curative effect of 15 mg ambroxol hydrochloride at a time

once per week

is better than 30 mg ambroxol hydrochloride. The change of tympanic pressure before and after treatment in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group

and the difference was statistically significant（ MD = 18. 06

95%CI = 15. 30-20. 82

Z = 12. 84

P<0. 000 01）. CONCLUSIONS: Ambroxol hydrochloride can significantly relieve the symptoms of secretory otitis media

but large sample

multicenter

high-quality clinical studies are still needed.