ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of"Tongdu Tiaoshen"(dredging Governor Vessel and regulating mind

needling on the cognitive function of patients with sepsis associated encephalopathy(SAE).MethodsA total of 64 patients with SAE were enrolled in the present study

and randomly and equally divided into a control group and a treatment group. Patients in the control group received conventional medicines and conventional needling treatment. The patients of the treatment group received conventional medicines and"Tongdu Tiaoshen"needling treatment. The treatment was conducted once daily for 10 days. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)scale was used to assess the therapeutic effect after the treatment. Serum interleukin-6(IL-6)was detected by radioimmunoassay

serum C-reactive protein(CRP)was detected by immuno-scattering method

and arterial blood lactic acid(Lac)content was detected by blood gas analyzer.ResultsThe effective rate in the treatment group was obviously higher than that in the control group(P<0. 01). After the treatment

the MoCA scores were considerably increased in both groups compared with their own pre-treatment(P<0. 01)

and the MoCA scores in the treatment group were obviously higher than those of the control group in the visual space and executive function

attention and computational power

language

abstraction and delayed recall dimensions(P<0. 01). The contents of IL-6

CRP and Lac in both groups were significantly decreased after the treatment relevant to those of their own pre-treatment(P<0. 01)

and were obviously lower in the treatment group than those in the control group(P<0. 01).Conclusion"Tongdu Tiaoshen"needling can significantly improve the cognitive function of SAE patients

which may be associated with its effect in reducing inflammatory reaction of sepsis.