Music helps recovery after surgery

Looking for a creative way to speed up your recovery from surgery? The key may lie in listening to music, according to research presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Meeting 2024 in San Francisco, California. He says he can't.

Researchers at California North State University School of Medicine in Elk Grove, California, analyzed existing research on music and its role in aiding recovery from surgery, narrowing down a list of 3,736 studies to 35 research papers. is. All studies included data on patient outcomes such as pain and anxiety, as well as measures of heart rate and opioid use. In their analysis, researchers found that the simple act of listening to music after surgery, whether through headphones or speakers, had a significant impact on patients recovering.

• Lower pain level: Patients who listened to music experienced statistically significant pain relief the day after surgery. Pain was measured using two validated scales that allow patients to self-report their pain level: a numerical rating scale (approximately 19% reduction) and a visual analogue scale (approximately 7% reduction).

• Reduced anxiety levels: Across all studies analyzed, patients' self-reported anxiety levels decreased by about 2.5 points, or 3%, as assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, a patient-completed survey that rates anxiety on an 80-point scale. .

• Decreased heart rate: Patients who listened to music experienced a decrease in heart rate (approximately 4.5 fewer beats per minute) than those who did not listen to music. The authors noted that maintaining a patient's heart rate within a healthy range is important because maintaining an effective heart rate helps promote recovery. Circulation of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, especially to the area that underwent surgery. In addition, tachycardia, or heart rate above 100 beats, can lead to abnormal heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation, which can be life-threatening.

When patients wake up after surgery, they may feel very scared and have no idea where they are. Music can help ease the transition from waking up to returning to normal, and may help reduce stress during that transition. ”

Eldo Frezza, MD, MBA, FACS, senior author of the study and professor of surgery at California North State University School of Medicine

Dr. Frezza and his co-authors found that unlike more active therapies such as meditation or Pilates, which require a great deal of concentration and movement, listening to music is a more passive experience that patients can use immediately after surgery. He pointed out that this can be implemented without much expense or effort.

“Although we can't specifically say that patients have less pain, the study found that patients perceived their pain to be less, which we think is just as important.” said Shezaib Reyes, first and third author of the book. Medical student at California North State University School of Medicine. “When I listen to music, I can disconnect and relax. That way, I don't have as much to do or focus on, and I can calm myself down. .”

The study authors noted that lower cortisol levels when listening to music may play a role in promoting patients' recovery from surgery. Some variables, such as the amount of time patients listened to music, could not be controlled in the analysis. Future research will also consider pilot programs to evaluate the use of music in surgical settings as well as intensive care units.

Dr. Frieza's advice? When you feel better after surgery, listen to your favorite music.

“We're not trying to say that one type of music is better than another,” he said. “We think music can help people in many ways after surgery, as music can be comforting and make you feel like you're in a nostalgic place.”

Co-authors of the study include: Hannah Chan, Bachelor of Science; Kimberly Koo, Bachelor of Science; Niloufer S. Tehrani, MTM; Julia C. Howard, BS. and Muzammil Akhtar, B.S.