A new study suggests that playing soothing instrumental music during surgery can help patients recover faster and significantly reduce the amount of anaesthetic drugs required.
The peer-reviewed research was conducted at the Lok Nayak Hospital and Maulana Azad Medical College in India on individuals undergoing laparoscopic gallbladder removal, a common minimally invasive procedure. Published in the journal Music and Medicine, the study examined 56 adults aged 18 to 65 between March 2023 and January 2024 to assess whether calming music could lower anaesthetic needs and reduce stress around the time of surgery.
Laparoscopic gallbladder removal typically lasts less than an hour and involves administering several medications to induce unconsciousness, manage pain, relax the muscles, and prevent patients from remembering the procedure. Propofol, a fast-acting drug that helps patients fall asleep quickly and wake up clearly, is central to this process. The main objective of the study was to compare how much propofol patients required when exposed to music versus those who experienced silence.
All participants received the same anaesthetic regimen—an anti-nausea medication, a sedative, fentanyl, propofol, and a muscle relaxant—and all wore noise-cancelling headphones. However, only one group listened to music during surgery.
Participants chose between two gentle Indian instrumental tracks featuring flute and piano arrangements. Many opted for a flute-based piece that blended Hindustani ragas known for their calming and uplifting qualities.
Those who listened to music needed significantly less propofol to maintain unconsciousness, averaging 6.7 mg per kilogram per hour compared with 7.86 mg in the group without music. They also required fewer extra doses of fentanyl, the opioid used to manage sudden spikes in heart rate or blood pressure.
A major finding was the substantial reduction in physiological stress. Postoperative cortisol—a key indicator of the body’s stress response—was much lower in the music group. Cortisol levels averaged 417 IU/ml in the group exposed to music, compared with 536 IU/ml in the control group.
Patients who listened to music also had a smoother awakening from anaesthesia and reported higher overall satisfaction one day after surgery.
The study concluded that “receptive music therapy may be used as a safe and effective non-pharmacological aid to reduce intraoperative anaesthetic requirements and improve overall patient outcome with no adverse effects”.
Music therapy has long been used to ease anxiety, stress, and discomfort before and after medical procedures. It is already established in areas such as oncology, mental health, physiotherapy, palliative care, and postoperative recovery, and this study adds new evidence supporting its use during surgery itself.