Blog - Page 21 of 39 - Surgical Serenity Solutions

Sep Sep 8, 2012

Surgery with Music: Case History #2, 62 year-old man with Pacemaker implantation

By DrAlice|September 8, 2012|Anesthesia, Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia, Headphones for other medical procedures, Pacemaker implantation, Surgery with Music Case Histories|0 Comments

Patient was a 62 y.o.male who had a history of two previous heart attacks, was diabetic and suffering from tremors and generalized weakness. Patient came to me as a result of reading online about the benefits of music with surgery and because he had been told that anesthesia would be more of a danger for him that the average 62 y.o. man. Patient’s health was moderately to severly compromised and he also had major anxiety about being in the hospital anyway because of previous associations with being ill.

Patient reported that he considered creating his own playlist for surgery that would included favorite country music, but after listening to samples of the Serenity Music, he realized that the slow, steady, instrumental classical music enabled him to relax more and drift off to a state of calm and relaxation. When procedure was over, patient’s recovery nurse said he required less pain medication than average person having this procedure and that he woke up more alert than most! Patient reported he was very pleased overall and that he would definitely use the headphones again with any future medical procedures. This man was so encouraged, he created this video testimonial for us:

Sep Sep 3, 2012

Surgery with Music: Case History #1, 70-y.o.female with by-pass surgery

By DrAlice|September 3, 2012|Anesthesia, Common Fears in Surgery, Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia, Fear of anesthesia, Fear of surgery, Surgery with Music Case Histories|2 Comments

One of our first patients to use music during surgery, was a 70 year-old female with 90% blocked arteries. She had not yet experienced a heart attack, but was in grave danger of having one. She was moderately overweight and had a diet consisting of many fatty foods, fried foods, sugary foods and lots of diet soda. Her exercise level was almost non-existant because of arthritic hips, knees and other joint problems.

One Fall evening, she and her husband attended a local college basketball game at their coliseum. At half-time, the patient began to climb the stairs to the level where restrooms were and got so out of breath that she nearly passed out and could not continue the climb. First-aid staff was called and eventually patient was put into an ambulance and sent to the emergency room. Suspected heart attack was the initial diagnosis. After a short time, it was determined that she should be transferred to a larger, regional hospital with more services. This was when we were called in for a consult on whether or not music might be advisable.

The patient could not handle large amounts of anesthesia and was allergic to many pain meds, which made her violently nauseous. On day 3 of hospitalization I met with patient to discuss her taste in music and to recommend 4 or 5 different possibilities. Patient was not feeling well and was only mildly to moderately enthusiastic about using music with her upcoming open heart surgery. (This was 1996) Finally, patient said to me “why don’t you just choose whatever you think would be best as long as it isn’t “Nearer my God to Thee.”

Surgery was early the next morning and patient listened to Handel’s “Water Music Suite” through light-weight headphones for about four hours of surgery. The surgeon called us back after surgery to see patient and was I in for a surprise! Upon approaching her bed in the recovery area, patient propped herself up on an elbow and said “Oh Dr. Cash, the music was BEAUTIFUL!!” I will never have surgery again without using music! It was just so beautiful and I really enjoyed it!!” Wow!

I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone before or since tell me that they enjoyed surgery, but then she was still “under the influence” of some of the drugs. When I visited her in her room the next day, she still had her headphones one and said they helped her sleep in an otherwise quite noisy environment. “A hospital is no place to get any rest and I want to go home as soon as possible.” She went home 5 days later and is still doing well and listening to her headphones!

Aug Aug 27, 2012

Preparing for your surgery: 3 Easy Ideas

By DrAlice|August 27, 2012|Anesthesia, Common Fears in Surgery, Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia, Fear of anesthesia, Fear of surgery, Music and Anesthesia|0 Comments

If you’ve just found you need surgery, or if you’ve decided to have an elective procedure, you still have fears and anxiety. Everyone does if they’re honest with themselves:

What if something goes wrong?
What if I wake up in the middle of the procedure?
What if I don’t wake up at all?!

In the vast majority of surgeries, nothing goes wrong. Surgery happens all over the world, every day. But when things go wrong, whether it’s leaving the sponge inside the patient’s body, taking off the wrong leg, or breast, or hand, it’s extremely traumatic.

I was always taught that knowledge is power, so if you’re planning to have surgery, you need to get information and do everything you reasonably can to assure a successful procedure. One of the easiest things you can do is to listen to music before, during and after your surgery or other medical procedure.

If you have enough time and know-how, you can begin choosing some of your favorite relaxing, comforting music to listen to, initially for an hour each day before the surgery, while lying down so that you can practice relaxing when you hear that self-chosen music.
You can talk to your surgeon in advance of the surgery and download your chosen music to your iPod or other MP3 player. If s/he approves the plan, you can take it to the hospital the day of the surgery and begin listening as soon as you get there, and continue all the way through recovery. There is ample research documenting the benefits of this, including reduced anxiety meds, anesthesia, and pain medication afterwards.
If you don’t have time, know-how, or willingness to do these things, you can buy pre-programmed headphones that already have the slow, steady, soothing music that researchers believe will keep your heart-beat and respiration steady and decrease the amount of anesthesia and pain medication you will need.

If I can help you in any way, feel free to contact me via a comment on this blog. Best wishes for a successful procedure!

Aug Aug 15, 2012

How Does Music Reach the Brain during Surgery

By DrAlice|August 15, 2012|Common Fears in Surgery, Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia, Headphones for other medical procedures, Music and the 8th Cranial Nerve, Rhythmic entrainment|0 Comments

When patients have surgery today, music CAN come to them in one of several different ways. Sometimes there is ambient music in the operating room. Oftentimes, the surgeon has speakers set up that are playing HIS or HER favorite music. That’s great for the surgeon, but the music that the surgeon needs is often the opposite from what the patient needs. The surgeon wants rhythmic, upbeat music that will keep his energy up and his focus sharp! The patient needs music that is slow, soothing and steady. Even under general anesthesia, the heart and breathing will entrain or synchronize with the pulse of the music.

When the patient listens to music of this type, he can have all the benefits of less anesthesia, less anxiety medication and less pain medication. The less medication and anesthesia that the patient requires, the faster and safer the recovery will be. When the patient listens through headphones, the surgeon’s music is blocked, or at least muffled greatly. Also, conversations in the OR that the patient doesn’t need to hear will be blocked. Patients often report that they heard conversations between nurses and doctors that were upsetting in one way or another.

A third choice in some hospitals is actual live music, administered by a music therapist. I think this would be fantastic because clearly the music would be geared toward the patient. I’m not sure how practical this is in a large busy hospital where the 20 operating rooms are busy all day long. MY choice would be the headphones and the only place that carries them right now is www.SurgicalSerenitySolutions.com. Check them out and let me know what you think. They can be used for years after the surgery and you can add more music or delete any and all of it and create your own playlist. Not only that, but you can download the music from the website onto your own iPod or MP3 player. Pretty cool!!

Jul Jul 15, 2012

Surgery Headphones continue to help people get through surgery with fewer problems

By DrAlice|July 15, 2012|Anesthesia, Common Fears in Surgery, Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia, Music and Anesthesia|0 Comments

When the surgery headphones were conceived in 2005, there had already been 15 years of preparation. Starting in 1990. we were beginning to be aware at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, that music before and after surgery were powerful ways of decreasing anxiety and pain, as well as stabilizing blood pressure, body temp and mood. We weren’t positive about how much effect it might have during surgery, but we suspected that it could reduce the amount of anesthesia even though the patient’s sense of hearing is not functioning. How does that work? Through the process of “entrainment” which means that the pulse of the music is transmitted by vibration through the headphones directly to the brain and body. Because of this phenomenon of “rhythmic entrainment” the heartrate and breathing synchronize with the pulse of the music and this keeps the body relaed through the surgery.

Of course, the less medication the patient has, the faster they recover, get back to work and the fewer complications arise. We can mail the headphones anywhere in the world and we can program the type of music you request for a slight additional fee. The music we have selected now is classical piano music that has the slow, steady pulse that is best for surgery. Don’t have surgery without them!!

Jun Jun 16, 2012

Preparing for Surgery: Three easy things you can do today

By DrAlice|June 16, 2012|Anesthesia, Common Fears in Surgery, Headphones for other medical procedures|0 Comments

Waiting to go into surgery.

No one really wants to have surgery. If you must though, for a life-threatening condition or a life-enhancing procedure, there are a few easy things you can do to help yourself and greatly improve your outcome:

1. Starting today, begin eating light and healthy foods that are easy to digest. Especially if you go under general anesthesia, all of your systems slow way down…like peristaltic action? The easier to digest foods you eat today, the happier you’ll be after your surgery.

2. Make sure that you have some frozen casseroles in your freezer, or friends lined up to bring in food for the week after surgery. You may not be able to get up and down easily and you certainly can’t get to the grocery or stand on your feet cooking. Ordering pizza or Chinese food is highly NOT recommended either. Stock your cabinets and fridge now with simple foods that are healthy and easy to prepare. We like fresh fruit, yogurt, scrambled eggs, salad fixins and lean turkey or chicken.

3. Begin putting together a playlist of your favorite soothing, comforting music for your iPod. Studies have shown that listening to favoite calming music before your surgery can greatly decrease the amount of anxiety medication you’ll need. Listening to slow, steady, simple music during surgery can help maintain blood pressure and breathing and listening to favorite, slightly more upbeat music after surgery can decrease pain meds and overall recovery time. You can make your own playlist, or order our pre-programmed headphones on this page.

Here’s to a very successful surgery!

Jun Jun 14, 2012

Going Under the Knife: are you afraid of anesthesia?

By DrAlice|June 14, 2012|Anesthesia, Common Fears in Surgery, Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia, Music and Anesthesia, Music and Propofol, Music in the hospital, Rhythmic entrainment|0 Comments

People tell me on a regular basis that they have a tremendous fear of going under anesthesia, especially general anesthesia. Today, general anesthesia is a very safe process, if you have no complications, are in generally good health, and have no history of problems with anesthesia.

There are many exceptions to the above-mentioned situations though. What if you have cancer and have been taking chemotherapy and have a suppressed immune system? What if you are elderly and frail with a heart condition or other pre-existing conditions? What if you have lots of allergies and a family history of problems with anesthesia. Of course, there is not an easy answer here. Each case must be judged on its own merits and you must talk very carefully with your doctors and your family. However, in some cases, you just need to have surgery and you really need to have general anesthesia.

In this case I would strongly recommend that you consider using music before, during and after the procedure. Music is a very well-documented and effective adjunct to anesthesia. Slow, steady, soothing music entrains or synchronizes with your heartbeat and breathing to keep you calm and relaxed before they take you back, during the surgery, and throughout your time in the recovery room.

In addition, many surgeons today play their own favorite music in the OR and often it is upbeat, fast and even syncopated music. This is thought not to affect the patient, and yet patients come to me after their surgery and tell me they heard conversations and loud music that they did not like! For this reason, I recommend that the patient listen to their own favorite music through lightweight, cordless headphones that have the most appropriate music already programmed onto them.

If you have the time and know far enough in advance, you can create your own playlist and bring your own iPod or other MP3 player in. OR, you can get some from www.surgicalheadphones.com. They are being used around the world already and research studies are in progress to prove their effectiveness in reducing the amounts of medication you will need. Best wishes as you go through this process and let me know how it goes!

Listening to soothing music before, during and after surgery can reduce the amount of anesthesia and pain medication you require

May May 21, 2012

Want Music with Your Surgery?: the Time is NOW!

By DrAlice|May 21, 2012|Characteristics of music for surgery, Common Fears in Surgery, Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia, Music and Anesthesia, Rhythmic entrainment, Surgery Music, which hospitals use music headphones|0 Comments

There has never been a better time to utilize the power of music with your surgery. For several decades now, surgeons have been playing their favorite music in the O.R. but it was assumed that if the patient was under general anesthesia, that they did not need their own music, nor were they affected by the surgeon’s music. Current research and awarenesses are rapidly changing that!

It turns out that not only IS the patient affected negatively if the surgeon choses raucous or too lively music (and yes, that does happen!) A surgical nurse locally told me that one surgeon regularly plays “Queen’s” song “Another One Bites the Dust” when he operates! I was appalled! On the other hand, surgeons and anesthesiologists are becoming aware that even when the patient is totally unconscious from the anesthesia and unable to “hear” technically, the slow, steady, pulsing of certain classical music can entrain or synchronize the person’s heartrate and breathing so that they stay more relaxed on the operating table with less anesthesia. Because they require less anesthesia to stay asleep, they awaken sooner and with less nausea, dizziness, “brain fog” and recover faster!

When the patient recovers faster, they are discharged from the hospital sooner, with fewer side effects, they get back to work and back to the lives sooner and the hospital can process more patients in one 24 hour period. So what’s the downside? We haven’t found anything yet.

Yes, you can create your own playlist of your favorite slow, steady music and download it to your own iPod to take into surgery….or you can get these really amazing lightweight, cordless headphones that have a built-in MP3 player, already loaded with “Surgical Serenity” music! Your choice! Click on the picture of the headphones or go to www.SurgicalHeadphones.com to learn more. You can also contact me at DrAlice@surgicalheadphones.com. Best wishes on your surgery.

May May 9, 2012

Classical music ‘improves surgery’

By DrAlice|May 9, 2012|Anesthesia, Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia, Headphones for other medical procedures, Music and Anesthesia, Recent Research on Surgery with Music, Surgery Music|0 Comments

Classical music could become a routine part of surgery, after a study found it helped to relax patients under local anaesthetic.

Surgeons believe playing a little knife music might benefit patients so much that they recover sooner from their operations.

Mozart was not actually one of the composers that those in the study got to hear. However, they were offered equally soothing pieces by Beethoven, Vivaldi and Bach.

Frank Sinatra was also on hand for those who preferred some easy listening during the operations, which included washing out major wounds.

Hazim Sadideen, the plastic surgeon who led the project at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, said: “Undergoing surgery can be a stressful experience for patients and finding ways of making them more comfortable should be our goal as clinicians.

“There are also good medical reasons – calmer patients may cope better with pain and recover quicker.

“This small scale work is the first time an attempt has been made to measure the impact music has in this specific group of patients and hints at the need for bigger multi-centre research to establish whether this should become part of standard practice.”

In the study, published in the journal Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons, 96 patients undergoing minor surgery were randomly assigned either music or silence. All were awake during their procedures, which included routine removal of skin lesions and cleansing of upper limb wounds after accidents.

The half played music reported lower anxiety levels and lower breathing rates than the others.

The medics did not evaluate whether Beethoven was better for patients than Bach.

Mar Mar 23, 2012

Why do you need headphones and music during surgery?

By DrAlice|March 23, 2012|Anesthesia, Dangers and Side-effects of anesthesia, Headphones for other medical procedures, Rhythmic entrainment, Surgery Music|0 Comments

Having surgery is a dangerous thing, but sometimes not having surgery is more dangerous. If you’ve been told that you need to have surgery, there are certain risks you will want to be aware of:

Anesthesia reactions:

Most problems that arise during surgery are the result of the surgery, not the sedation for the procedure. While uncommon, there are very serious complications that can occur if a patient has a reaction to the anesthesia drugs.

Most problems associated with anesthesia are related to the process of intubation, or inserting the breathing tube. Aspiration, or breathing food or fluid into the lungs, can be a problem, during surgery. Some patients also experience an increased heart rate or elevated blood pressure during the process.

The problem of anesthesia awareness has been discussed a great deal in the media, but waking during surgery or being awake throughout the surgery, is a very rare when anesthesia is provided by an anesthesiologist or a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA).

Malignant hyperthermia, a reaction to anesthesia that causes the patient’s temperature to rise rapidly, is life threatening. A patient who has had malignant hyperthermia in the past has a significant increase in risk and should discuss the issue with their surgeon and anesthesia provider. (information can be found on http://surgery.about.com/od/beforesurgery/a/RisksSurgery.htm)

How can music help? When patients have begun relaxing before their procedure with slow, familiar, favorite music, it is only natural that their bodies and muscles are not as tense and therefore the patient can be put to sleep more easily and with less anesthesia. When the music is continued, through cordless headphones, througout the surgery, the patient’s body stays relaxed and music with a steady, slow pulse, synchronizes the heartrate and breathing. Again, because the body is staying relaxed with the slow, steady music, less anesthesia is needed and the patient wakes up soon, still listening to the music through headphones, and requires less pain medication.

Several studies are in process right now, around the U.S. and doctors, hospitals, and patients are quite excited about the possibilities of a safer and a kinder procedure. The headphones that I have programmed with the ideal music for surgery are available now and can be overnighted to you if you need them quickly. If you have financial constraints, let me know and I will work with you to be able to get them. One day, music and headphones will be available in hospitals around the world. Don’t wait!