| Objective: To explore the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen combined with electrical stimulation of the median nerve in promoting awakening of patients in vegetative state. Methods: A total of 60 patients with vegetative state were randomly divided into 30 patients in the control group and 30 patients in the observation group, and both groups received median nerve electrical stimulation, with hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the observation group and conventional oxygen therapy in the control group. Before and after the treatment, the awakening rates of the two groups were recorded, and the patients in the two groups were evaluated with the Revised Coma Recovery Scale (CRS-R), the Fully Unresponsive Rating Scale (FOUR), the electroencephalogram (EEG), and the Expanded Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS-E), respectively. Results: After 4 weeks of treatment, 8 (26.7%) patients in the control group and 13 (43.3%) patients in the observation group achieved minimal consciousness on CRS-R. The difference in the awakening rate between the 2 groups was not statistically significant (χ2=1.832, P=0.176). After treatment, the CRS-R score and FOUR score EEG grading in the 2 groups were significantly higher than before treatment (P<0.01), and those in the observation group were higher than the control group (P<0.01). After treatment, the GOS-E scores in both groups were significantly higher than before treatment (P<0.01), but the difference between the 2 groups was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Hyperbaric oxygen combined with median nerve electrical stimulation can improve the level of consciousness and prognosis of patients in vegetative state. |
