How music in operating theatres reduces use of anaesthetic drugs - Report

A new study has found that playing calming instrumental music during surgery can significantly reduce the amount of anaesthetic drugs patients require and improve their overall recovery.

The peer-reviewed research, conducted at Lok Nayak Hospital and Maulana Azad Medical College in India, examined 56 patients aged between 18 and 65 who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a common keyhole procedure to remove the gallbladder.

The study, published in the journal Music and Medicine, ran from March 2023 to January 2024 and explored how music might reduce anaesthetic needs and perioperative stress.

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Laparoscopic gallbladder removal typically lasts under an hour and involves a combination of drugs to induce sleep, block pain, erase memory of the procedure, and relax muscles. Patients commonly receive propofol, which causes unconsciousness within seconds and allows for a quick, clear-headed recovery.

Explaining the motivation behind the research, senior anaesthesia specialist and certified music therapist Dr Farah Husain said modern anaesthesia aims to enable fast, smooth recovery.

“Patients need to wake up clear-headed, alert, and oriented, and ideally pain-free. With better pain management, the stress response is curtailed,” she said.

The primary goal of the study was to compare total propofol usage between patients who listened to music during surgery and those who did not.

All patients received the same combination of drugs and wore noise-cancelling headphones, but only half listened to music.

They were allowed to choose between two Indian instrumental pieces, with many selecting a flute composition combining the Hindustani ragas Yaman and Kirwani for its soothing tones.

Results showed a marked difference. Patients who listened to music required 6.7 mg of propofol per kilogram per hour, compared with 7.86 mg in the control group, a statistically significant reduction. They also needed fewer additional doses of fentanyl, the opioid used to manage sudden spikes in pain-related responses.

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The study further disclosed that the body’s stress reaction to surgery was significantly lower among music recipients.

Postoperative cortisol levels averaged 417 IU/ml in the music group, compared with 536 IU/ml among those who did not listen to music.

Researchers also noted that patients exposed to music experienced smoother awakenings from anaesthesia and reported higher satisfaction levels 24 hours after their procedures.

MRA/BAI

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