Study uncovers surprising benefit of music during operations
A recent study conducted in India has revealed that playing music to patients under general anaesthesia can significantly speed recovery, reduce painkiller usage and improve physiological responses. The research, carried out at Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital in Delhi, found that patients who listened to calming instrumental music during surgery required lower doses of sedatives and pain‑relief medications compared with those who did not.
How the trial was designed
In this randomised controlled trial, adult patients undergoing laparoscopic gall‑bladder removal under total intravenous anaesthesia were divided into two groups. One group received standard anaesthesia care; the other group had noise‑canceling headphones fitted and listened to music of their choice (flute or piano) throughout the operation. The researchers recorded drug‑dosage levels, wake‑up times, blood pressure fluctuations and stress‑hormone (cortisol) levels. The music group showed:
- Significantly lower doses of propofol (sedative) and fentanyl (opioid pain‑killer) required.
- Smoother emergence from anaesthesia, with less grogginess and clearer orientation.
- Reduced peri‑operative cortisol levels, indicating a lower stress response.
Why music made a difference
The study’s lead investigators suggest that even under anaesthesia, the brain’s auditory pathways may remain partially active and receptive. By introducing calming music, the body’s stress‑response system (which typically becomes activated during surgery) is modulated, resulting in more stable vital signs and reduced drug requirement. Dr Tanvi Goel, who co‑led the research, said: “We are engaging the patient’s nervous system even under anaesthesia — blunting the neuro‑endocrine stress response.”
Implications for surgical care in India
This research may open up a low-cost, non‑pharmacological intervention that has wide applicability, especially in resource‑constrained settings:
- Reduced drug usage can lessen side‑effects, shorten recovery times and cut costs.
- Faster and clearer wake‑up may reduce time in post‑anaesthesia care units (PACU) and improve throughput in hospitals.
- Less physiological stress means potentially fewer complications, better patient comfort and smoother post‑operative management.
Cautions and further research needed
While these findings are promising, several caveats apply:
- The sample size was relatively modest — larger multicentre trials will be needed to validate and generalise the results.
- The study involved a specific type of surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) and the effect may vary across other operations or patient‑profiles.
- Choosing the right “music prescription” (genre, volume, timing) requires more research: one noted insight is that patient‑preferred music tends to be more effective.
- Implementation must consider practicalities: integrating music into operating‑theatre workflows, controlling ambient sound, and ensuring no interference with monitoring or communication in theatre.
What to watch next
- Whether more hospitals in India (public and private) begin pilot programmes offering intra‑operative music therapy as part of anaesthesia protocols.
- Publication of follow‑up studies that assess long‑term outcomes (e.g., complication rates, length of hospital stay, patient‐satisfaction scores).
- Exploration of whether music may help with other areas of peri‑operative care — such as pre‑surgery anxiety, post‑operative pain, or in intensive‑care recovery.
- Consideration by aviation, defence or specialised medical units where sedation and rapid recovery are critical — could music therapy help those environments too?
Final word
The Indian study offers compelling evidence that something as simple as music can play a meaningful role in surgical care — an idea that blends medicine, neuroscience and human experience. Especially in a country striving to scale up surgical capacity and improve patient outcomes, this approach could represent a gentle but powerful tool. As one expert put it: when the body is being cared for in silence, perhaps a little harmonious sound makes all the difference.
