Electroacupuncture to Assist Ventilator Weaning in Severe Stroke

Disuse atrophy of the major respiratory muscles and diaphragmatic dysfunction often develop during mechanical ventilation, and cause difficulties in ventilator weaning. Electroacupuncture was indicated to promote activities of diaphragm and improve diaphragmatic function. Our aim is to evaluate the efficacy of electroacupuncture in assisting ventilator weaning in patients with severe stroke. 100 eligible patients will be randomly assigned to receive electroacupuncture or sham electroacupuncture treatment one session per day until the success of ventilator weaning (up to 21 days). The primay outcome is the ventilation duration within 21 days after enrollment.