Music in Surgery Reduces Anaesthesia Needs and Speeds Recovery

A recent clinical study conducted in Delhi has revealed that playing music during surgeries under general anaesthesia can significantly decrease the amount of anaesthetic drugs required by patients and enhance their recovery speed and quality. The research, carried out at Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital, has been published in the journal Music and Medicine, marking a significant advancement in understanding the effects of auditory stimuli on the unconscious brain.

The study specifically examined patients undergoing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a common surgical procedure for gallbladder removal that typically lasts less than one hour. The procedure necessitates a rapid and stable return to consciousness. Over an 11-month period, 56 patients aged between 20 and 45 were randomly assigned to two groups for the experiment. Both groups wore noise-cancelling headphones and received the same anaesthetic regimen, which included propofol and fentanyl. However, only one group was exposed to calming instrumental music, choosing between soothing flute or piano melodies.

The results indicated that patients who listened to music required significantly lower doses of propofol and fentanyl to maintain the necessary level of anaesthesia. Although the participants were unconscious and unable to remember the music, their auditory pathways remained sufficiently active to influence physiological responses.

Dr. Ashok Kumar, a lead researcher involved in the study, noted, “Our findings suggest that incorporating music into operating rooms could serve as a beneficial non-drug intervention to enhance anaesthetic care.” The reduction in the necessity for sedatives and opioid painkillers not only improves patient safety but also diminishes potential side effects and could facilitate quicker discharge from the hospital.

The research team plans to conduct further studies to determine whether music can aid in other forms of sedation and across various surgical specialties. For now, the findings support a straightforward conclusion: gentle background music may effectively stabilise patients during surgery and enhance their recovery without introducing additional risk or cost.

As healthcare continues to evolve, incorporating innovative strategies such as music into surgical protocols could transform patient experiences and outcomes, highlighting a promising avenue for future research and practice.