Anesthesia is typically seen as a state of unconsciousness or deep sleep. However, some observations suggest that certain sensory pathways, such as auditory pathways, may still remain intact during anesthesia, which could explain phenomena like intraoperative awareness. A study published in BMJ found that listening to soothing music during surgery can help reduce pain and decrease the use of opioid medications after the procedure.
The researchers recruited 385 patients from five hospitals in Germany between January and December 2018. All the participants were undergoing 1-3 hour surgeries under general anesthesia. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups: an intervention group (n=191) and a control group (n=194). During surgery, patients in the intervention group listened to soothing music through headphones for 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of silence, while the control group listened to a blank tape.
The study found that the intervention group experienced significantly less pain in the first 24 hours after surgery compared to the control group, with a 25% reduction in pain scores. Additionally, the amount of opioid medication needed by the intervention group in the first 24 hours after surgery was also notably lower. The median morphine equivalent dose for the intervention group was 4.0 mg, compared to 5.3 mg for the control group. Furthermore, fewer patients in the intervention group required opioid medications after surgery. It was estimated that for every six patients who received the music intervention, one person did not need any opioid pain relief.
In conclusion, playing soothing music through headphones during general anesthesia appears to reduce postoperative pain and the need for opioid medications. This approach offers a safe, effective, and non-pharmacological way to manage pain after surgery.
