Objective To observe the curative effect of acupuncture intervention combined with hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatment for delayed encephalopathy in 32carbon monoxide(CO)poisoning patients.Methods A total of 62CO poisoning encephalopathy patients were randomized into control group(n=30)and acupuncture group(n=32).Patients of the two groups were all treated with medicines(energy mixture solution

hormones

brain cell activators

calcium ion blockers

anti-inflammatory agents

etc.)and hyperbaric oxygen treatment(oxygen-inhaling for 90min/time).Moreover

patients of the acupuncture group received acupuncture stimulation of bilateral Taixi(KI 3)

Xuanzhong(GB 39)

Hegu(LI 4)

Taichong(LR 3)

and Fengchi(GB 20).All the treatments were conducted once daily for 30days.The therapeutic effect of the treatments for neurological function was assessed by NIH Stroke Scale(NIHSS

34points in total;including 15items as consciousness

horizontal eye movement

visual power

visual field

facial muscular motion

limb movement

coordination movement

sensory and language levels

etc.).Results After the treatment

of the 30and 32cases in the control and acupuncture groups

1and 4were cured

3and 8experienced marked improvement

4and 11were improved

and 22and 9invalid

with the effective rates being 26.1%and 72.3%

respectively.The therapeutic effect of the acupuncture group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P<0.05).The average NIHSS score was 5.01±0.72in the acupuncture group

being significantly lower than that(8.30±0.45)in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture treatment can effectively strengthen the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of delayed encephalopathy caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.