The Healing Power of Music: Indian Study Shows Benefits in Surgery Recovery
A woman lies motionless on the operating table in Delhi, as surgeons prepare to remove her gallbladder. Though she is under general anesthesia, soft flute music plays through headphones placed over her ears. This carefully designed setting is not just for ambiance; it plays a crucial role in her recovery.
A recent study from Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital in Delhi suggests that music during surgery can significantly impact recovery. Published in the journal Music and Medicine, the research found that patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy who listened to music while sedated needed less propofol and opioid painkillers, thus improving recovery times and outcomes.
Dr. Farah Husain, a senior specialist in anesthesia and a certified music therapist involved in the study, explained, Our aim is early discharge after surgery. Patients need to wake up clear-headed, alert, and ideally pain-free. Better pain management helps curtail the stress response during surgeries. Thus, reducing the amounts of anesthetics used allows for quicker recovery and more stable vital signs.\
The trial involved 56 adults, all of whom received the same five-drug regimen for anesthesia, but only half were exposed to calming instrumental music during the procedure. The results were compelling: those who listened to music displayed lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, and required fewer anesthetic drugs.
The researchers argue that the auditory pathways remain active even under anesthesia. This means that the unconscious mind can still respond to soothing music, potentially shaping the patient’s internal state positively, even if they do not consciously remember it.
Dr. Tanvi Goel, the primary investigator of the study, noted, This research indicates the potential of music to humanize the operating room and highlights how non-drug interventions can serve to alleviate stress and improve surgical outcomes. If simple measures such as music can reduce drug dependence and enhance recovery, it may prompt a rethink about patient wellbeing in surgical contexts.\
As further studies explore music-aided sedation, this initial data underscores a profound yet simple truth: gentle musical notes can play a pivotal role in the healing process, even when the body is still and the mind deeply asleep.
