Music 'reduces operation pain and anxiety'

13^th August 2015 -- If you're having an operation, researchers say listening to music before, during or after it can significantly reduce pain and anxiety.

A review of the evidence for playing music around surgery found it can be effective during a general anaesthetic as well as procedures where the patient stays conscious.

Music and surgery

Playing music in operating theatres is nothing new. It was first used in 1914 to help calm patients. These days it is more seen as something played for the benefit of surgeons, nurses and anaesthetists.

Music in the operating theatre was also in the news recently when concerns were raised in a study about music distracting operating theatre staff, and sometimes making it hard to hear instructions.

However, the Royal College of Surgeons spokesperson says said there was no evidence that loud distracting music is a widespread issue in NHS hospitals.

Music research

Researchers from Brunel University and Queen Mary University of London looked at evidence from 72 good quality studies on the benefits of music during surgery on recovery after operations, with data on nearly 7,000 patients.

Music during surgery was compared with operations where no music was played, and also compared with other non-drug techniques, such as massage and relaxation.

Writing in the Lancet, they report that:

• Patients were significantly less anxious after surgery
• Patients reported significantly more satisfaction after listening to music
• Significantly less pain relief medication was needed
• Although listening to music at any time around an operation seemed to help, listening to it before a procedure was most effective
• If patients got to pick their own playlist, pain and the need for pain medication was only reduced more than when there was no music choice.
• Music didn't reduce the length of time people stayed in hospital after an operation.
• Music reduced pain more in procedures where patients were awake, but also seemed to have a subconscious effect when played under general anaesthetic.

Cheap and effective

Lead author Dr Catherine Meads from Brunel University has some personal experience of the subject. She chose Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon to help her through a hip operation earlier this year.

Dr Meads says in a statement: "Music is a non-invasive, safe, cheap intervention that should be available to everyone undergoing surgery. Patients should be allowed to choose the type of music they would like to hear to maximise the benefit to their wellbeing. However, care needs to be taken that music does not interfere with the medical team’s communication."

In a comment article linked to the study, Dr Paul Glasziou from Bond University in Australia says: "A drug with similar effects might generate substantial marketing." He says there's an opportunity for more research on how to maximise the benefits of music for surgery.