A recent study conducted at Delhi's Maulana Azad Medical College suggests that playing music for patients undergoing general anaesthesia may reduce the required doses of anaesthetic drugs and improve post-surgical recovery. The research, published in the journal Music and Medicine, focused on patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a keyhole procedure for gallbladder removal.
Study Findings
The study indicated that patients who listened to music through headphones during general anaesthesia required lower doses of anaesthetic agents, specifically propofol and opioid painkillers. This reduction correlated with a quicker and clearer return to consciousness upon waking. The findings suggest that even when patients are under deep sedation, the auditory pathway may remain partially active, contributing to these effects.
Anaesthesia and Surgical Stress
Modern anaesthesia involves a combination of drugs to induce sleep, block pain, prevent memory recall, and relax muscles. For procedures like laparoscopic gallbladder removal, regional nerve blocks are often used in conjunction with general anaesthesia. Despite anaesthesia, the body typically exhibits a stress response to surgery, characterized by increases in heart rate, hormone levels, and blood pressure. Managing this response is crucial for recovery. Intubation, the process of inserting a breathing tube, is identified as a significant stressor during general anaesthesia, prompting physiological reactions even in an unconscious state.
Anaesthetic Agents
Propofol, an intravenous hypnotic agent, is frequently utilized in operating theatres due to its rapid onset and comparatively clear recovery profile, which minimizes post-operative "hangover" effects often associated with inhalational gases. Fentanyl, an opioid painkiller, is also a standard component of anaesthetic regimens.
Study Methodology
The research involved an 11-month trial with 56 adult participants, aged approximately 20 to 45 years. Participants were randomly divided into two groups. Both groups received a standardized five-drug regimen, which included an antiemetic, a sedative, fentanyl, propofol, and a muscle relaxant. All participants wore noise-cancelling headphones. One group was administered instrumental music (choice of soft flute or piano), while the control group received no auditory input. The objective was to assess whether music could reduce the required dosages of propofol and fentanyl, thereby facilitating faster awakening and more stable vital signs with fewer side effects. The researchers posited that implicit auditory awareness could yield beneficial effects even if the music was not consciously recalled by the patient.