Observation on promoting resuscitation in the patients with coma of acute carbon monoxide poisoning by acupuncture combined with hyperbaric oxygen

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of promoting resuscitation and the effect differences between acupuncture combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and simple HBOT in the patients with coma of acute carbon monoxide poisoning (ACMP). MethodsA total of 36 patients with ACMP coma were randomized into a simple HBOT group and acupuncture combined with HBOT group, 18 cases in each one. In the simple HBOT group, HBOT was provided once a day for 2 weeks. In the acupuncture combined with HBOT group, acupuncture was provided during HBOT. The acupuncture was given before the patients were sent to the hyperbaric oxygen chamber and the needles were retained until the hyperbaric oxygen treatment was completed. The acupoints included Băihuì (百会 GV 20), Shuĭgōu (水沟 GV 26), Sìshéncōng (四神聪 EX-HN1), Fēngchí (风池 GB20), Hégŭ (合谷 LI 4), Tàichōng (太冲 LR 3) and Yŏngquán (涌泉 KI 1). The needles were retained through the entire process of HBOT. Such combined treatment was given once a day for 2 weeks. Before the treatment, the score of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was recorded, the levels of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and brain-derived growth factor (BDNF) were tested and the time from unconsciousness to resuscitation was recorded of the two groups. After treatment, the levels of serum IL-6, IL-8 and BDNF were tested again and the clinical therapeutic effects were evaluated. ResultsAt last, there were 16 cases in the simple HBOT group and 17 cases in acupuncture combined with HBOT group got resuscitation. The time from unconsciousness to resuscitation was (5.17 ± 1.10) h in the acupuncture combined with HBOT group, which was less than (6.83 ± 2.73) h in the simple HBOT group, indicating the significant difference in statistic (P < 0.05). After treatment, the total effective rate was 94.4% in the acupuncture combined with HBOT group, which was higher than 88.9% in the simple HBOT group, indicating the significant difference in statistic (P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of serum IL-6 and IL-8 were (29.72 ± 3.49) and (67.17 ± 7.61) pg/mL respectively in the acupuncture combined with HBOT group, which were lower as compared with those before treatment, indicating the significant differences in statistic (both P < 0.05). The level of IL-8 in the acupuncture combined with HBOT group was lower than (72.67 ± 7.17) pg/mL in the simple HBOT group after treatment, indicating the significant difference in statistic (P < 0.05). After treatment, the level of BDNF was (14.78 ± 3.90) pg/mL in the acupuncture combined with HBOT group, higher than the level before treatment, presenting the significant difference (P < 0.05), and higher than (12.93 ± 2.59) pg/mL in the simple HBOT group after treatment, presenting the significant difference in statistic (P < 0.05). ConclusionAcupuncture combined with HBOT achieves the superior effect of promoting resuscitation and the clinical therapeutic effects as compared with the simple HBOT. Such combined treatment reduces the levels of serum IL-6 and IL-8, increases the level of serum BDNF in ACMP patients, as well as plays the active role in the prevention from delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning.