Musical Anaesthetic

A review found that surgery patients could benefit from pain-reducing benefits of music before, during, and after an operation.

23:06 14 August 2015

According to a review conducted by researchers at Queen Mary University of London, patients who listened to music before their surgical operation were less anxious and needed less pain relief. The review, which as posted in the Lancet, said that there’s evidence suggesting that music has been effective while patients were under general anaesthetic.

 

The lead author, Dr Catherine Meads, said: "Currently music is not used routinely during surgery to help patients in their post-operative recovery.

 

"The lack of uptake is often down to the skepticism of professionals as to whether it genuinely works, and of course issues of budget and the integration into daily practice."

 

A Department of Health spokesman said: "This is very interesting research.

 

"We hope doctors consider the findings closely, because we want patients to have the best experience and recovery possible when they undergo surgery."

 

Meanwhile, Hazim Sadideen, a plastic surgeon from University Hospitals Birmingham, said: "Undertaking both minor and major surgery can induce stress.

 

"Music can be used as an additional modality or adjunct to improve the patient journey, of course it is important to ensure the patient and theatre team would like music to be played."