Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture plus hyperbaric oxygen(HBO) on cerebral blood perfusion in patients with delayed encephalopathy after carbon monoxide poisoning(DEACMP).Methods Twenty-eight patients with DEACMP were randomly divided into acupuncture group(n=14 cases) and control group(n=14 cases). Patients of the acupuncture group were treated by using "Xingnao Kaiqiao" needling technique(specific set of acupuncture points as Yintang [EX-HN3]

Shangxing [GV23]

Baihui [GV20]

Sishenchong [EX-HN1]

Fengchi [GB20]

Taichong [LR3]

etc.

and strong stimulation) combined with HBO in an air pressurized tank

and those of the control group treated by simple HBO. The treatment was conducted once a day

5 days a week for 6 weeks. All the patients underwent head routine magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and intravoxel incoherent motion imaging(IVIM) scan before and after the treatment. The values of pseudo-diffusion coefficient D(D

*

) and perfusion fraction(f) of the bilateral semi-oval centers were measured by using MITK software package to calculate the ave-rage fD*) and perfusion fraction(f) of the bilateral semi-oval centers were measured by using MITK software package to calculate the ave-rage fD

*

value(f×D* value(f×D

*

). The Barthel index(BI) score was used to assess the patients' daily living ability

and the correlation between parameter values was evaluated by Pearson method.Results After the treatment

the values of f

fD*). The Barthel index(BI) score was used to assess the patients' daily living ability

and the correlation between parameter values was evaluated by Pearson method.Results After the treatment

the values of f

fD

*

and BI scores were significantly increased in both acupuncture group and control groups(P

<

0.05). The values of the 3 indexes were significantly higher in the acupuncture group than those in the control group(P

<

0.05). The values of f and fD* and BI scores were significantly increased in both acupuncture group and control groups(P

<

0.05). The values of the 3 indexes were significantly higher in the acupuncture group than those in the control group(P

<

0.05). The values of f and fD

*

were positively correlated with BI score(P

<

0.05)

with the correlation coefficients being 0.822

0.636 and 0.601

respectively between the fD* were positively correlated with BI score(P

<

0.05)

with the correlation coefficients being 0.822

0.636 and 0.601

respectively between the fD

*

and f

BI and f

and BI and fD* and f

BI and f

and BI and fD

*

. Conclusion Acupuncture combined with HBO can significantly improve the low-perfusion of bilate-ral semi-oval center and daily living ability in patients with DEACMP

being significantly superior to simple HBO therapy in the curative effect.