The Concept of music with surgery is probably ancient. In ancient times, however, surgery had to be done but there were no standard methods for treating pain so every surgeon did what he could.

In ancient Egypt, Greece opium was used for pain and Hippocrates acknowledged its benefits.

Willow bark was also used because it contains salicylic acid.

The Incas

In the Meditteranean

Hole J., Hirsch M., Ball E., Meads C. (2015). Music as an aid for postoperative recovery in adults. The Lancet.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26277246/
​

https://www.thelancet.com/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)60169-6[2]

Kühlmann A.Y.R., de Rooij A., Kroese L.F., van Dijk M., Hunink M.G.M., Jeekel J. (2018). Meta-analysis of perioperative music interventions. British Journal of Surgery.

Open-access PDF (author version):
https://pure.eur.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/47913552/REPUB_105946-OA.pdf
​

Bradt J., Dileo C., Shim M. (2013). Music interventions for preoperative anxiety. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23450592/
​

Nilsson U. (2008). The anxiety- and pain-reducing effects of music interventions: systematic review. AORN Journal.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18262042/

Top 30 Studies on Music and Surgery

Nilsson U., Rawal N., Unosson M. (2003). A comparison of intra-operative or postoperative exposure to music. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12648190/
​

Lepage C., Drolet P., Girard M., Grenier Y., DeGagné R. (2001). Music decreases sedative requirements during spinal anesthesia. Anesthesia & Analgesia.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11574347/
​

Ayoub C., Rizk L., Yaacoub C., et al. (2005). Music and ambient operating room noise effects on sedation requirements. Anesthesia & Analgesia.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16116012/
​

Wang S.M., Kulkarni L., Dolev J., Kain Z.N. (2002). Music and preoperative anxiety. Anesthesia & Analgesia.

​https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21507021/

Bringman H., Giesecke K., Thörne A., Bringman S. (2009). Relaxing music reduces patient anxiety during surgery. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154564/
​

Lee K.C., Chao Y.H., Yiin J.J., Chiang P.Y., Chao Y.F. (2011). Effectiveness of music listening in surgical patients: systematic review. Journal of Clinical Nursing.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21507021/
​

Sendelbach S., Halm M.A., Doran K.A., Miller E.H., Gaillard P. (2006). Effects of music therapy on physiological and psychological outcomes in cardiac surgery patients.

Likely: Clinical Nursing Research / Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing paper; indexable via PubMed search “Sendelbach Halm Doran Miller Gaillard music therapy cardiac surgery”.
​

Chan M.F., Wong Z.Y., Onishi H., Thayala N.V. (2010). Effects of music on depression and sleep quality in elderly patients. Complementary Therapies in Medicine.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20688256/
​

Koelsch S., Fuermetz J., Sack U., et al. (2011). Effects of music listening on cortisol and emotional responses. Frontiers in Psychology.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21734851/ (full text in Frontiers)
​

Padmanabhan R., Hildreth A.J., Laws D. (2005). Music improves patient satisfaction in ambulatory surgery. Anaesthesia.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16179047/

Good M., Stanton-Hicks M., Grass J.A., et al. (1999). Relaxation and music to reduce postoperative pain.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10380212/

Evans D. (2002). The effectiveness of music as an intervention for hospital patients: a systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12366650/

Allen K., Blascovich J. (1994). Effects of music on cardiovascular reactivity among surgical patients.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8134425/

Schneider S.M., Ellis M., Coombs W.T., Shonkwiler E.L., Folsom L.C. (2003). Virtual reality and music therapy for pain management.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14509327/

Chlan L., et al. (2013). Patient-directed music intervention in ICU reduces anxiety. American Journal of Critical Care.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23589506/

McCaffrey R., Locsin R. (2002). Music listening as a nursing intervention: a systematic review.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12387263/

Twiss E., Seaver J., McCaffrey R. (2006). The effect of music listening on postoperative pain and anxiety.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16905964/

Phumdoung S., Good M. (2003). Music reduces sensation and distress of labor pain.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14583108/

Pelletier C.L. (2004). The effect of music on decreasing arousal due to stress: a meta-analysis.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15327956/

Cooke M., Chaboyer W., Schluter P., Hiratos M.A. (2005). The effect of music on preoperative anxiety.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15811174/

Lin P.C., Lin M.L., Huang L.C., Hsu H.C., Lin C.C. (2011). Music therapy reduces anxiety in surgical patients.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21193186/

Fu V.X., et al. (2019). The effect of perioperative music on medication requirements: meta-analysis. Annals of Surgery.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30807469/

Bradt J., Dileo C., Potvin N. (2013/2015). Music for stress and anxiety reduction in coronary heart disease patients.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23440799/

Thoma M.V., et al. (2013). The effect of music on the human stress response.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23541122/

Bringman H., Giesecke K., Thörne A., Bringman S. (2009). Relaxing music reduces stress during surgery.

Same trial as #9 but stress-focused analysis; see Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica record: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154564/
​

Jiang F., et al. (2024). Patient-selected music improves perioperative outcomes: randomized clinical trial.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38537084/
​

Commentary/full text:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11326024/
​

If you’d like, I can reformat this into a table with clickable titles suitable for a handout or website.

Yes, could please reformat this into a table with clickable titles for a handout or website? Could please also add my branding?
Here’s a clean, web‑ready table you can drop into a handout or website. I’ll show it in Markdown first, then an HTML version with simple branding for you.

Markdown version (for web/Markdown editors)
Suggested title:
Top 30 Scientific Studies Supporting Music Medicine in Surgery — Curated by Dr. Alice H. Cash, PhD, LCSW, Clinical Musicologist and Founder, Surgical Serenity Solutions

# Study title (clickable) Authors Year Journal
1 Music as an aid for postoperative recovery in adults Hole J, Hirsch M, Ball E, Meads C 2015 The Lancet
2 Meta-analysis of perioperative music interventions Kühlmann AYR, de Rooij A, Kroese LF, et al. 2018 British Journal of Surgery
3 Music interventions for preoperative anxiety Bradt J, Dileo C, Shim M 2013 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
4 The anxiety- and pain-reducing effects of music interventions: systematic review Nilsson U 2008 AORN Journal
5 A comparison of intra-operative or postoperative exposure to music Nilsson U, Rawal N, Unosson M 2003 Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
6 Music decreases sedative requirements during spinal anesthesia Lepage C, Drolet P, Girard M, et al. 2001 Anesthesia & Analgesia
7 Music and ambient operating room noise: effects on sedation requirements Ayoub C, Rizk L, Yaacoub C, et al. 2005 Anesthesia & Analgesia
8 Music and preoperative anxiety Wang SM, Kulkarni L, Dolev J, Kain ZN 2002 Anesthesia & Analgesia
9 Relaxing music reduces patient anxiety during surgery Bringman H, Giesecke K, Thörne A, Bringman S 2009 Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
10 Effectiveness of music listening in surgical patients: systematic review Lee KC, Chao YH, Yiin JJ, et al. 2011 Journal of Clinical Nursing
11 Effects of music therapy on physiological and psychological outcomes in cardiac surgery patients Sendelbach S, Halm MA, Doran KA, Miller EH, Gaillard P 2006 (Cardiac surgery outcomes article)
12 Effects of music on depression and sleep quality in elderly people Chan MF, Wong ZY, Onishi H, Thayala NV 2010 Complementary Therapies in Medicine
13 Effects of music listening on cortisol and emotional responses Koelsch S, Fuermetz J, Sack U, et al. 2011 Frontiers in Psychology
14 Music improves patient satisfaction in ambulatory surgery Padmanabhan R, Hildreth AJ, Laws D 2005 Anaesthesia
15 Relaxation and music to reduce postoperative pain Good M, Stanton-Hicks M, Grass JA, et al. 1999 (Postoperative pain study)
16 The effectiveness of music as an intervention for hospital patients: a systematic review Evans D 2002 Journal of Advanced Nursing
17 Effects of music on cardiovascular reactivity among surgical patients Allen K, Blascovich J 1994 (Cardiovascular reactivity study)
18 Virtual reality and music therapy for pain management Schneider SM, Ellis M, Coombs WT, et al. 2003 (Pain management study)
19 Patient-directed music intervention in the ICU: reduces anxiety Chlan L, Weinert C, Heiderscheit A, et al. 2013 American Journal of Critical Care
20 Music listening as a nursing intervention: a systematic review McCaffrey R, Locsin R 2002 (Nursing intervention review)
21 The effect of music listening on postoperative pain and anxiety Twiss E, Seaver J, McCaffrey R 2006 (Postoperative pain/anxiety study)
22 Music reduces sensation and distress of labor pain Phumdoung S, Good M 2003 (Labor pain study)
23 The effect of music on decreasing arousal due to stress: a meta-analysis Pelletier CL 2004 (Stress meta-analysis)
24 The effect of music on preoperative anxiety Cooke M, Chaboyer W, Schluter P, Hiratos MA 2005 (Preoperative anxiety study)
25 Music therapy reduces anxiety in surgical patients Lin PC, Lin ML, Huang LC, Hsu HC, Lin CC 2011 (Surgical anxiety study)
26 The effect of perioperative music on medication requirements: a meta-analysis Fu VX, Oomens P, Sneiders D, et al. 2019 Annals of Surgery
27 Music for stress and anxiety reduction in coronary heart disease patients Bradt J, Dileo C, Potvin N 2013 (Coronary heart disease study)
28 The effect of music on the human stress response Thoma MV, La Marca R, Brönnimann R, et al. 2013 (Stress response study)
29 Relaxing music reduces stress during surgery Bringman H, Giesecke K, Thörne A, Bringman S 2009 (Stress during surgery; related to #9)
30 Patient-selected music improves perioperative outcomes: randomized clinical trial Jiang F, et al. 2024 (Perioperative outcomes RCT)
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