Hemispheric-synchronisation during anaesthesia: a double-blind randomised trial using audiotapes for intra-operative...

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Neuroscience
• Pain Management

Background:

• Pain perception during surgery under general anesthesia can be modulated by various factors.
• Auditory stimuli, including music and specific sound patterns, have been explored for their potential effects on pain and anxiety.
• Objective measures are needed to quantify the antinociceptive effects of non-pharmacological interventions during surgical procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the antinociceptive effect of hemispheric-synchronised sounds compared to classical music and blank tape in patients undergoing surgery.
• To evaluate the efficacy of auditory stimulation as an adjunct to general anesthesia for pain control.
• To use fentanyl requirements as a quantitative measure of nociception control.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, randomized study involving 76 patients (ASA 1 or 2, aged 18-75 years).
• Standardized general anesthesia (propofol, nitrous oxide, isoflurane, fentanyl) with spontaneous breathing via laryngeal mask.
• Patients were allocated to receive hemispheric-synchronised sounds, classical music, or a blank tape.

Main Results:

• Patients exposed to hemispheric-synchronised sounds required significantly less fentanyl (mean 28 µg) compared to those listening to classical music (124 µg) or blank tape (126 µg) (p < 0.001).
• The reduced fentanyl requirement in the hemispheric-synchronised sound group remained statistically significant after controlling for age and sex via regression analysis.
• This indicates a potent antinociceptive effect of hemispheric-synchronised sounds during general anesthesia.

Conclusions:

• Hemispheric-synchronised sounds demonstrate a significant antinociceptive effect in surgical patients under general anesthesia.
• Auditory stimulation with hemispheric-synchronised sounds can potentially reduce the need for opioid analgesics during surgery.
• This finding supports the use of tailored auditory interventions as a complementary strategy in pain management during anesthesia.