‘Gentle instrumental music during surgery can reduce patients’ stress, help recovery’

By Admin

28 Nov, 2025

Gentle instrumental music played during surgery may soon become a powerful ally in operation theatres across India. A new peer-reviewed study has found that soothing tunes can significantly reduce patient stress, lower anaesthetic drug requirements, and even help with faster recovery. Conducted by Lok Nayak Hospital and Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi, the research offers compelling evidence that a simple non-pharmacological tool could meaningfully improve surgical outcomes.

Aiding recovery with music therapy
Published in the journal Music and Medicine in November, the study observed 56 adult patients aged 18 to 64 who were undergoing laparoscopic gallbladder removal between March 2023 and January 2024. All participants received standard anaesthesia, including five commonly used drugs: a sedative, fentanyl, propofol, a muscle relaxant, and another to prevent nausea and vomiting. What set the study apart was the introduction of gentle instrumental music specifically flute or piano   played through noise-cancelling headphones for selected patients.

How the study was structured
To ensure scientific rigour, researchers designed the experiment as a double-blind study. Neither doctors nor patients knew who was receiving music. All participants wore noise-cancelling headphones, but only one group heard instrumental tracks. Doctors monitored all patients using a BIS (Bispectral Index) device, a tool that helps adjust anaesthetic dosage accurately, prevents intraoperative awareness, and supports faster recovery.

Lower stress levels and better vitals
One of the strongest findings came from stress-related indicators. According to Dr Farah Husain, senior specialist in anaesthesia and certified music therapist, the goal was to determine whether music could reduce intraoperative stress and subsequently lower the need for sedatives and painkillers. The results were promising: patients who received music therapy showed lower levels of the stress hormone serum cortisol and more stable baseline vitals throughout the procedure.

Reduced drug requirement during surgery
Dr Sonia Wadhawan, director-professor of anaesthesia and intensive care at Maulana Azad Medical College, noted that every patient received total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol, fentanyl, and muscle relaxants. But the intraoperative requirements varied dramatically. Patients exposed to music needed 15 per cent less propofol to maintain unconsciousness and 38 per cent less fentanyl to manage spikes in heart rate or blood pressure. This not only suggests lower drug exposure but also indicates a smoother physiological response during surgery.
Post-operation, the contrast was even clearer: while the control group’s cortisol levels averaged 536 IU per ml, those who heard music averaged 417 IU per ml.

Auditory pathways remain active under anaesthesia
Another fascinating insight from the research was that, despite being under anaesthesia, patients still showed signs of implicit auditory recall. Dr Husain explained that while patients do not consciously remember hearing the music, their auditory pathways remain functional enough for music to influence stress and recovery.

A new direction for surgical care
The researchers emphasised that integrating a non-pharmacological intervention like music therapy offers a low-risk, high-reward opportunity for modern surgical practice. Even if future studies reveal varying degrees of effectiveness, the method carries no adverse effects and could become a valuable, patient-friendly addition to operation theatres.

As hospitals continue exploring innovative ways to improve patient comfort and outcomes, this study highlights the power of something as simple, safe, and universal as music   proving that healing can come not only from medicine, but also from melody.