The effects of music therapy on intraoperative and postoperative parameters: A randomized single-blind study

Music therapy has been used in medicine to reduce patient stress and to improve mood. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of music therapy on intraoperative hemodynamics and medication requirement and postoperative pain and side effects.

Eighty patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists I to II physical status at the ages of 20 to 60 for whom elective thyroidectomy surgery was planned were included in the study. General anesthesia was induced for patients and demographic data were recorded. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. The groups were determined as music group (group M) and control group (group C). The intraoperative vital signs of the patients (heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation), bispectral index values, train-of-four neuromuscular monitoring values, additional opioid and muscle relaxant requirements, and complications were recorded.At the end of the operation, extubation was performed following standard decurarization using atropine and neostigmine. The 0th hour, 3rd hour and 6th hour visual analogue scale scores of the patients were measured and recorded.

Intraoperative fentanyl and rocuronium consumption were found to be approximately 23% lower in group M compared to group C (P < .05).The bispectral index values of the patients were similar between the groups (P > .05). It was also observed that the postoperative pain levels of the group M were lower (P < .05). Music therapy was determined to not create a difference in terms of the blood pressure, heart rate, and saturation (SpO2) levels during recovery from anesthesia (P > .05).

Playing music, which is a non-pharmacological intervention, is an effective method without a side effect that not only reduces the intraoperative need for muscle relaxant and analgesic use but also causes positive effects on postoperative visual analogue scale scores.