April 2013 - Surgical Serenity Solutions

Benefits of Surgery with Music: Medical Research Documents

As the word spreads about your options for using music during surgery, the studies come out, documenting the benefits, and the list of benefits grows and grows. Here are a few of the main benefits for the patient having general anesthesia:

For the patient: Slow, steady, and soothing instrumental music can

Decrease anxiety and the need for as much anxiety medication
Decrease the amount of propofol needed as a result of patients level of relaxation
Decrease the amount of pain medication needed during and after surgery
Decrease the amount of time in the recovery area as a result of
Less nausea and vomiting
Less dizziness and confusion
Faster recovery and back to work because of less anesthesia

For the surgeon: Upbeat, steady tempo, instrumental music can

Improve focus
Maintain energy level
Decrease distractability

For the hospital: Benefits of using separate music for patient and surgeon

Safer procedures with less side-effects
Patients safely discharged sooner because of less anesthesia and pain meds
Customer satisfaction sky-rockets
More patients are able to be seen during the day

My sincerest hope is that one day all hospitals will use music in their operating rooms to soothe and comfort the patient in a natural and effective way, through cordless, pre-programmed headphones, while the surgeon has his favorite upbeat music that allows him to have a laser focus and plenty of energy through speakers in the OR. There is ample research to document all of these benefits. Click HERE to see a presentation on Music with Surgery. Please feel free to contact me with any questions!

Will my surgeon let me use music in the operating room?

Great question! Many people fear that even if they want to use their own music in the Operating Room, their doctor won’t allow it because of concerns with germs, cleaniliness, or some sort of interference with their equipment. Let me address these concerns, one by one:

Possible Concerns of the Surgeon

Could music through headphones or an iPod/MP3 play introduce germs into the surgical field? I have been told repeatedly by surgical personnel, that everything in the OR does NOT have to be sterilized. Only the instruments that go inside the patient music be sterilized. The table, floor, lamps, etc. are disinfected but not sterilized. Although the headphones that each person uses are brand-new and not touched by human hands once packaged, my recommendation that you order them several days in advance allows you to practice relaxing with them at home and get used to turning them off and on and adjusting the volume. So that when you arrive at the hospital, they will likely be wiped down with disinfectant anyway, but can also easily fit under the cap that the patient wears over their own hair and head.

Even in 2005, there were a few surgeons who would balk at the idea of bringing an ipod or headphones in the to the OR, but today, the benefits of the right kind of music in surgery, are so well documented that it is not an issue. Also, the fact that probably the majority of surgery now have music playing in the OR, makes it seem more natural for the patient to bring his music in. Especially for regional anesthesia or local anesthesia, it makes sense to let the patient bring in the music that will be comforting for them.

Why It Works

Rhythmic entrainment is so powerful and so well-documented that there is no questions that slow, steady, soothing music will calm a person down by slowly and regulating their breathing. You have a couple of choices. You can choose your favorite slow, steady, instrumental music and load it onto your iPod, or you can purchase cordless, preprogrammed headphones to take into surgery and they will last you for 5-10 years, and can be re-loaded with whatever music you like.

UPDATE: In 2021 you can order or download our new book “Having Surgery? Using Music to Decrease Anxiety and Pain Perception” or you can now download our new mobile app and sample five different playlists we have created for surgery in different genres

Having Surgery? Now available in the the Kindle Store!

Serenity Music Playlists now available in Apple App Store

P.S.

Surgical Serenity Solutions helps hospitals and medical facilities that offer surgery increase patient satisfaction as well as reduce anxiety and pain perception, using carefully curated music that harnesses the power of rhythmic entrainment to stabilize heart rate and breathing.

Best wishes on your surgery and let me know if I can help you or answer any questions!