| Objective:To systematically review the effectiveness of median nerve electrical stimulation (MNES) for patients with disturbance of consciousness. Methods：Such databases as the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, CNKI, CBM, VIP, and WanFang Data were electronically searched from inception to May 2015 for randomized controlled trials on MNES for patients with disturbance of consciousness. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and evaluated methodological quality of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. Results：A total of 9 trials were included, involving 768 patients: 383 patients in the experimental group and 380 patients in the control group . The results of meta-analysis showed that after MNES, the scores of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in the experimental group were increased after one week ［MD = 2.24, 95% CI (1.47, 3.01), P<0.00001］, 2 weeks ［MD = 1.40, 95% CI (0.64, 2.16), P<0.0003］ and 4 weeks ［MD = 2.17, 95% CI (1.56, 2.78), P<0.00001］, as compared with control group with the differences being statistically significant. The revival rate in the experimental group was higher than in the control group ［RR = 1.43, 95% CI (1.20, 1.72), P<0.0001］ with the difference being statistically significant. Conclusion：Current evidence shows that patients with disturbance of consciousness who received MNES had better recovery than the control group. Because of the quality and quantity restrictions included in the study, this conclusion still needs more high-quality, large sample, rigorous RCTs to verify. |
