[Observation on therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture therapy for promoting consciousness of patients with coma]

To observe the promoting consciousness effect of electroacupuncture therapy on the patients with long-term coma caused by severe craniocerebral trauma.

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.

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.

Electroacupuncture therapy combine with western medicine is more effective in improving consciousness of patients in coma caused by severe craniocerebral trauma.