Investigating the efficacy of electroacupuncture and hyperbaric oxygen therapies on the awakening of coma patients with severe brain trauma

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture and hyperbaric oxygen therapies on the awakening of coma patients with severe brain trauma. Methods: One hundred and twenty severe brain injury patients were enrolled and randomly divided into four groups: conventional treatment group, electroacupuncture treatment group, adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen treatment group, and adjuvant electroacupuncture plus hyperbaric oxygen treatment group, with 30 patients in each group. The changes in Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Glasgow Outcome Scale were recorded posttreatment. Results: Posttreatment, the GCS of all the four groups was increased. The GCSs of electroacupuncture treatment group, hyperbaric oxygen treatment group, and electroacupuncture plus hyperbaric oxygen treatment group were significantly higher than control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in GCSs between electroacupuncture group and hyperbaric oxygen group (P > 0.05). Further, combining electroacupuncture and hyperbaric oxygen treatment made no significant improvement in GCS over individual treatments (P > 0.05). Conclusion: In addition to conventional treatment, the use of electroacupuncture and hyperbaric oxygen therapies may have a beneficial effect on patients' nervous system and thus aid in the awakening of coma patients.