Music helps doctors focus in the operating room

If you've been reading this blog for awhile you know what I advocate different music for the patient from what the surgeon hears. The surgeon needs upbeat, high-energy music that keeps him wide-awake and focused while the patient needs slow, soothing, very steady music that will stabilize his heart-rate and breathing. Today I read a story about a hospital and a surgeon that are utilizing music in the O.R. for the surgeon, through iPods! Enjoy! Dr. Kalpaj Parekh has two loves in his life: surgery and rockin' out to Led Zeppelin. He considers himself lucky to do both at the same time. Although "rockin' out" is an exaggeration, music is definitely a fixture for Parekh during surgery. Operating rooms at University Hospitals, along with many other U.S. hospitals, are equipped with sound systems. Surgeons say music relaxes them, focuses their attention, relieves tension and even helps pass the time. "I think it just relaxes me right away. It takes the pressure off," said Parekh, 38, a cardiothoracic surgeon who operates on the heart and lungs. "It cuts out all the other noise that I don't want to listen to." Music as a tool in health care is not new. Studies have shown that it helps patients recover after surgery. But research also shows that even surgeons benefit from hearing their favorite tunes. A study done in 1994 by the State University of New York found not only that surgeons performed better with music, but that being able to pick their own music also made them even more proficient. "I find that when I'm operating it's very visual, and I think the music, in a way, does something to keep the verbal side of my brain busy. It's kind of a strange feeling, (but) maybe it's complementary," said Dr. Grant Hamilton, a University Hospitals' surgeon who does facial plastic and reconstructive surgery on the head and neck. Surgery can be routine and short or it can be highly stressful and stretch on the entire day. Although very little talking occurs, the murmurs of machines and other extraneous noise are loud enough to make hours seem like days, said Dr. Mark Iannettoni, 49, of University Hospitals. "There's no talking. Nothing is routine, and there's always a lot of tension," he said. "Music relieves that without making people slack off." Dr. John Canady, a plastic surgeon known for working on cleft lip and palate, prefers that music blend in as background noise when he operates at University Hospitals. "Some surgeons don't like to have any background distraction in the OR at all," said Canady, 49. "For me, it depends on the case, the mood I'm in going into the case, how difficult the case will be." University Hospitals provides a radio sound system in its operating rooms, but in the age of technology, doctors are opting for iPods hooked into speakers. That way they can play their own playlists. Parekh is happy with classic rock, mostly Led Zeppelin, and in particular "Tangerine" or "The Rain Song." Hamilton listens to music by the decade. Sometimes it's the Eagles' "Hotel California," and at times, every pop song played in the '80s. Iannettoni's tastes run from Dave Matthews to Eminem. Canady prefers light country or classic rock. Some music is banned from the operating room, although only by the doctor's preferences and out of regard for patients. For personal reasons, Parekh won't play country. Iannettoni thinks heavy metal would be too distracting. Hamilton prefers familiar songs, which keeps him focused on his patient and not on trying to learn the words. Canady refuses to play Barry Manilow. "When properly used, music can contribute to a patient's safety," Canady said. "A more relaxed ... operating room is a safer one." While some might find it unsettling to think that surgery could include more than scalpel and suture, surgeons said music is present only to assist, not detract, from their work. Hamilton, recalling one surgeon in his residency that turned the OR into what seemed like a bass-thumping dance hall, said music is usually loud enough to be effective but never so loud that it distracts. "You can hear it, but we can easily talk and be heard," Hamilton said. The surgeons said music is common in the operating room and becoming more regular with the younger generation of doctors. Also common, they said, is the seniority that surgeons have to be the real DJs of the medical team. "Even though surgery is a team approach, it's surgeons who get to pick the music, unfortunately," Parekh said.

In surgery, practice makes perfect

We know that practice makes perfect in music, in sports and in most everything else, but read this important release about the importance of choosing an experienced surgeon. And tell your friends about this too!

WASHINGTON (AP) - Practice matters for doctors, too: A 15-year study found men whose cancerous prostates were removed by a more experienced surgeon were less likely to relapse. Specialists have long advised people who need surgery for whatever reason to pick an experienced surgeon. But how experienced? For prostate cancer, surgeons seemed to improve until they'd done 250 of the operations, concludes the study published Tuesday by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center tracked the outcomes of more than 7,700 men who had their cancerous prostates removed between 1987 and 2003 by 72 surgeons at that hospital and three other respected university-based hospitals. Within five years of their prostate removal, 17.9 percent of men treated by inexperienced surgeons _ those who had done just 10 prior operations _ had evidence that their cancer was back. Among men treated by experienced surgeons _ 250 prior operations _ 10.7 percent relapsed.

Great success using music with knee replacement surgery

The stories keep pouring in of people who have used music through headphones with their various surgeries and had faster recoveries, less anesthesia and overall better experiences. One woman told me that if she had not had her headphones and music in the recovery room that the noise level in there would have driven her crazy. When you're in a large room with lots of other people who have just had surgery, it's inevitable that there will be a few people who are in acute pain. As you know, when people are in pain, they often cry out or at least moan and groan! My patient (who recently had knee replacement surgery) had to get past a nurse who initially said no to get to her anesthesiologist who said "I can't imagine why it would cause any harm and if it makes you feel better, then go right ahead!"

PLEASE contact me at chantdoc@healingmusicenterprises.com and let me hel you prepare for your surgery with music. If you live in the Louisville, KY area I can even come to your home. If you live in Seattle or Boston or Dallas, we can do it over the phone or even have a teleseminar! Please take advantage of this easy-to-use technique that can greatly improve your chances of a successful surgery!

Should the patient choose his own music?

Would you prefer to choose your own music for surgery? The responses I get are about 50/50. Many people do want to choose their favorite music because they have definite musical taste and don't want to risk having someone else choose the music that accompanies them into a long (or even a short!) surgery. Then there are those who would prefer that someone else choose relaxing music for them. If you do want to choose your own music, keep these guidelines in mind:

1. Studies show that instrumental music is best. Lyrics tend to engage the left brain causing the patient to begin analyzing the music; not relaxing!

2. Choose some music that has the tempo of a healthy resting heart beat...between 40-50 beats per second.

3. Choose music that has positive associations for you. Music that you have loved for many years is always good.

4. You can choose music that you don't know well or maybe have never heard. Just listen to enough of it that you know it isn't upsetting or agitating.

5. Many people believe that slow classical music is best.

6. Some people really prefer slow and soft New Age music.

7. Personal taste in music is the key that opens the mind and body to a good surgical experience.

As soon as you know you're going to need surgery, start listening to many types of music. You know what you respond to. Talk with confidence to your surgeon about what you want to do. There is plenty of research that documents the benefits. You won't regret it! Let me know if I can help!

Man sings to infant daughter during surgery

Just moments ago I read about a man who sang a love song to his six-month-old daughter during her open-heart surgery. The original citation of this can be found at http://teamtsunamiblog.blogspot.com/. What a beautiful thing! I would love to know more about this story but it definitely seems like a good idea! What do you think? Just click on "comment" and share your reaction to this. You don't have to sign up for a Blogger account but you'd probably enjoy that!

iPod or Headphones in surgery?

With all the news and research about the numerous benefits of music for the patient undergoing surgery, many people are wondering if actual headphones or iPod earbuds are best. At this point, I would say that overall, headphones are best, primarily because they will have a more secure fit. There are many cases in which the iPod would probably be fine but my experience is that with some patients they just don't stay in the ear securely. Babyboomers and older are not used to earbuds and so are probably better off with full headphones that comfortably cover the entire ear. After all, one of the benefits is blocking conversations that the medical staff might be having that the patient doesn't need to hear. Please write to me on this blog with your questions and concerns.

An interesting surgery experience

Recently, a friend of mine's son had to have brain surgery. Thankfully, the tumor was benign and he is recovering fabulously well, but over coffee the other day, the father related an interesting and humorous experience his son had while coming out of the anesthesia. Apparently he was thinking of the new TV Show "Deal or No Deal." In his "dream state" he was playing the game and was asked "deal or no deal." He said "deal" and when the pretty girl opened the case, in it was a NEW BRAIN!

What does this have to do with music? Nothing, but I thought my readers would enjoy the story! Actually I will say this: if my friend had been wearing headphone (or earbuds in this case since it was brain surgery) he might or might not have had this dream. I believe that music affects the thoughts and probably dreams of people who are listening. In this case, the dream was funny and amusing. I believe that the chances for a positive surgical experience are greatly increased when listening to music through headphones or earbuds.