Music during thyroid surgery reduced medication use in a small trial
Patients assigned to music received less fentanyl and rocuronium during surgery and reported less postoperative pain. Several monitored physiological measures showed no statistically significant differences.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
In this thyroid-surgery trial, music was accompanied by lower medication consumption during anesthesia and lower postoperative pain scores. The results concern a specific surgical setting and short follow-up. They do not establish lasting pain relief or justify changing anesthesia practice solely from this abstract, which leaves several treatment and safety details unspecified.
The abstract does not describe the music protocol, specify who was blinded, give absolute medication doses or report detailed side-effect results. Pain outcomes extend only into the early postoperative period.
What researchers found
Fentanyl and rocuronium consumption
Medication consumption during surgery in the music group compared with the control group.
Pain and monitoring results
Postoperative pain scores were lower with music. The groups did not differ significantly on the bispectral index used during anesthesia, and recovery measurements of blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation also showed no significant differences.
What the null results mean
A nonsignificant comparison does not prove that the groups were equivalent. Likewise, the authors' favorable safety conclusion is difficult to assess from the abstract because it does not provide a detailed account of complications or side effects.
The original publication
The effects of music therapy on intraoperative and postoperative parameters: A randomized single-blind study.
Kaya MB, Tekeli AE, Kurt N et al.
Medicine (Baltimore) · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40859508
- Record checked
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