[Observation on therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture therapy for promoting consciousness of patients with coma].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the promoting consciousness effect of electroacupuncture therapy on the patients with long-term coma caused by severe craniocerebral trauma.


METHODS
Twenty-nine cases with coma more than 3 weeks and Glasgow Coma Scales (GCS) of 8 or less were divided into an observation group (n=15) and a control group (n=14). They were treated with the same western medicine. In addition to ordinary treatment, the observation group was treated with electroacupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Shuigou (GV 26), Yongquan (KI 1) etc. for 30 min and the needles were retained for 30 min, once each day.


RESULTS
The average awake time and awake rate were 40.1 days and 73.3% (11/15) respectively in the observation group, which were higher than 51.8 days and 28.6% (4/14) in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Electroacupuncture therapy combine with western medicine is more effective in improving consciousness of patients in coma caused by severe craniocerebral trauma.
Liu
Jian-ping
JP
Department of Neurosurgery, Guilin Women and Children's Hospital of Guangxi Province, Guilin 541000, China. ping1668@126.com
Yang
Zhi-lin
ZL
Wang
Min-shan
MS
Shi
Rong
R
Zhu
Bao-ping
BP
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003128:Coma / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003243:Consciousness; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult