Stress reduction through music in patients undergoing cerebral angiography

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Psychology
• Medical Procedures

Background:

• Cerebral angiography is an invasive procedure that can induce significant patient stress.
• Elevated stress levels during medical procedures are associated with adverse physiological responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of music on physiological and psychological stress markers in patients undergoing cerebral angiography.
• To determine if music can mitigate the stress response during this specific neurovascular procedure.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 30 patients undergoing cerebral angiography.
• Patients were allocated to either a music intervention group or a control group.
• Measurements included plasma cortisol levels, blood pressure, heart rate, and psychological parameters.

Main Results:

• Patients exposed to music exhibited stable plasma cortisol levels, unlike the control group which showed increased cortisol.
• Systolic blood pressure was significantly lower in the music group compared to the control group.
• Patients reporting higher initial fear levels showed a particularly pronounced benefit from the music intervention.

Conclusions:

• Music acts as an effective non-pharmacological intervention to reduce stress during cerebral angiography.
• Music may help improve patient experience and physiological stability during invasive neurovascular procedures.
• The anxiolytic effect of music is particularly beneficial for patients with high pre-procedural fear.