The Effect Of Music Therapy On Sedative Requirements And Haemodynamic Parameters In Patients Under Spinal Anaesthesia; A Prospective Study

Background: Music therapy is the application of music in the treatment of physiological and psychological aspects of an illness or disability. Music has been shown to modulate the stress response in minor operations, intensive care and other various hospital settings. We designed this study to determine the effects of music therapy on intraoperative sedative requirements in achieving similar degrees of sedation and on Haemodynamic parameters in patients undergoing surgery under spinal anaesthesia. Methods : We prospectively studied 100 cases of ASA Grade I and II between 15-65 years of age from both sexes, undergoing abdominal, urological and lower extremity surgery under spinal anaesthesia. The patients were randomized into Group M (those who listened to music) and Group C (those who didn't listen to music). After the induction of spinal anaesthesia, and after achieving the desired effects and levels, headphones were applied to all the patients and music was started in group M. The intraoperative vital parameters and total sedative requirements were recorded and compared in both the groups. Observations: The total midazolam requirements were significantly lower in patients who listened to music intraoperatively (2.17 ± 0.53 mg versus 3.25 ± 0.77 mg; P =0.02), for achieving similar degree of sedation (Ramsay grade 3). The mean pulse rate was significantly lower in group M as compared to group C (from 68-76 versus 86-98; P 0.05), though the patients in group M reported a higher sense of satisfaction and well- being postoperatively. Conclusions: Our findings suggest an important role of music in perianesthetic patient care. We conclude that music is a non-pharmacological alternative which is suitable for decreasing intraoperative sedative requirements under spinal anaesthesia.