Objective To observe the effect of"Xingnao Kaiqiao"acupuncture(acupuncture technique for restoring consciousness)combined with hyperbaric oxygen in patients with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and assess its influence on blood rheology.Methods Forty patients with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy were randomly divided into treatment group and control group with 20 cases in each group.The treatment group received "Xingnao Kaiqiao"acupuncture combined with hyperbaric oxygen

and the control group received hyperbaric oxygen only.The two groups of patients were treated once per day for 6 consecutive days

which consisted of one course of treatment

and the total treatment lasted for four courses.Before and after treatment

the patients underwent the mini mental state examination(MMSE)to evaluate cognitive function and the barthel index score for activities of daily living.The changes of whole blood viscosity

plasma viscosity

and erythrocyte aggregation index were determined.Results After treatment

both the treatment and control groups showed improvements in cognitive function

activities of daily living

and blood rheology compared with those before treatment(P<0.05).However

these improvements in the treatment group were significantly greater than those in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Application of"Xingnao Kaiqiao"acupuncture combined with hyperbaric oxygen in patients with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy can result in an integrated curative effect

a significant improvement in the blood rheology indexes

and promote the recovery of brain cells.