Music during surgery reduced early emergence delirium in older patients
The trial found different recovery outcomes with music at different times, but did not establish that either timing was superior overall.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Music chosen by patients and played during surgery lowered the reported incidence of emergence delirium compared with the control condition. Music played after surgery was associated with shorter delirium duration and lower pain scores. The reported comparisons do not establish which timing offers better overall recovery or benefits beyond the immediate postoperative period.
The abstract does not describe the control condition or report confidence intervals for the main result. The incidence measure covers only the early period after anesthesia.
What researchers found
Emergence delirium incidence
Music during surgery versus control within 60 minutes of breathing-tube removal; defined by Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale score ≥ +1 (p < 0.001).
What counted as delirium
The main outcome used a specified agitation and sedation scale threshold shortly after the breathing tube was removed. This definition matters: the study focused on emergence from anesthesia, rather than longer-term cognitive recovery.
Timing and outcomes
Participants listened through headphones to genres they selected. Music during surgery improved the reported delirium incidence and severity; music after surgery improved duration and pain. Satisfaction increased with both approaches, according to the abstract.
The original publication
The Differences Between Intraoperative- and Postoperative-Preferred Music Effects on Emergence Delirium in Elderly Patients: A Single-Center, Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.
Lee H, Park E, Kim B et al.
Medicina (Kaunas) · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41010977
- Record checked
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