Music reduces the amount of anesthesia in surgery

A new scientific study conducted in India has proven that listening to instrumental music during surgical procedures can significantly reduce patients' need for anesthesia. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

The study was carried out at Lok Nayak Hospital and Maulana Azad Medical College in Delhi, involving 56 patients undergoing gallbladder removal surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy). The research lasted from March 2023 to January 2024, with the main goal of reducing the amount of anesthesia and lowering preoperative stress levels.

The patients were divided into two groups. One group listened to soothing instrumental music played on the Indian flute (bansuri) or piano through headphones during the operation.

Although the same anesthesia agents were used for all patients, the group that listened to music required significantly less anesthesia. According to the study results, patients who listened to music used less of the primary anesthetic agent — propofol.

On average, 6.7 milligrams of propofol per kilogram of body weight per hour was administered to them, while in the control group this figure was 7.86 milligrams. Additionally, patients who listened to music did not require the strong painkiller fentanyl.

Furthermore, the group that listened to music showed lower stress levels. The average cortisol level in the blood was 536 millimoles in the group that did not listen to music, compared to 417 millimoles in the music group.

This indicates that the body did not respond to the surgery with intense stress. The study results also showed that patients who listened to music woke up from anesthesia more easily and their recovery process was faster.

Experts evaluate music as an inexpensive, safe, and clinically convenient adjunct therapy. It is emphasized that this approach may be widely applied in surgical practices in the future.