Objective To observe the arousal effect of electroacupuncture(EA) stimulation of Baihui(GV 20)

Shuigou(GV 26)

etc.on severe craniocerebral injury patients.Methods A total of 90 cases of severe craniocerebral injury were randomly allocated to routine medication

naloxone and EA groups

with 30 cases in each group.For patients of the routine medication group

mild hypothermia therapy

medicines for dehydration

hormonal therapy

vascular dilation

cerebral nutrition suppor-ting

anti-inflammation

etc.were given.For patients of the naloxone group

intravenous drip of naloxone 0.4 mg/kg in the first 3 days

0.2 mg/kg for 7 days and 0.1 mg/kg afterwards.For patients of the EA group

EA(1 Hz/50 Hz) was given for 30 min once daily.All the treatments were conducted once a day for 14 days.The Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS) and Glasgow Outcome Scale(GOS) were used for assessing the therapeutic effect.Results In comparison with pre-treatment in each one of the routine medication

naloxone and EA groups

GCS scores were all obviously increased in the 3 groups following the treatment

and one month's follow-up(P<0.05).The GCS scores of both naloxone and EA groups were significantly higher than those of the routine medication group(P<0.05).No significant difference was found between the naloxone group and EA group in GCS scores(P>0.05).According to the GOS

one month's follow-up showed that of the three 30 cases in the routine medication

naloxone and EA groups

6

12 and 14 were improved

8

10 and 10 moderate handicap

8

3 and 2 severe handicap

5

3 and 2 vegetative state

and 3

2 and 2 dead

with the arousal rates being 46.66%

73.33% and 80.00%

respectively.The therapeutic effects of both naloxone and EA groups were significantly superior to those of the routine medication group(P<0.05).Conclusion EA intervention at early stage can promote the recovery of neurological function

accelerate the consciousness from coma and improve the outcomes of patients with severe traumatic brain injury.