How about Ipods in Surgery?

Should you take your iPod into surgery? About a year ago, the site www.livescience.com had this to say: If you're headed for surgery, take your iPod. A new study by the Yale School of Medicine confirms previous work showing that surgery patients listening to music require much less sedation. Previous studies left open the question of whether it was music that did the trick, or just the act of blocking out the sound of dropped surgical instruments and other operating room noise. In the new study, researchers tested 90 surgery patients at two facilities. Some wore headphones and listened to the music of their choice. Others heard white noise, that hiss and hum common to office buildings that's designed to drown out harsh noises. Others had no headphones. Blocking sounds with white noise did not decrease sedative requirements, the study found, music did. "Doctors and patients should both note that music can be used to supplement sedation in the operating room," said study team member Zeev Kain, a Yale professor in the Department of Anesthesiology. This is significant folks. Listen up! And please let your doctor know as far in advance as possible that you want to use music through headphones or an iPod. You won't regret it!

Headphones for Surgery

You probably remember that I am in the process of creating some special headphones for surgery. The patent is almost finalized but recently, I hit a little bump in the road. Seemingly out of the blue, it was brought to my attention that I would need FDA approval. At first I though "that can't be right" but the more I have investigated it, the more I have found that it does seem to be true! It seems that if you're making any sort of medical claim about a device, you must have FDA approval, whether it's an invasive device or not. Interesting, eh?

Why talk to the anesthesiologist?

If you're thinking about using music with your surgery, you really do want to talk with the anesthesiologist first. Why? Because the anesthesiologist is the one whose job will be most affected by the patient's use of music. Why is that, you say? One of the main reasons to use music through headphones during surgery is because the patient is able to use up to 50% less anesthesia when they are hearing music through headphones during the procedure. As I've said many times, even though there are many, many studies documenting this phenomenon,many physicians still are not aware of it and therefore will need to be educated about the benefits. If you're interested in trying it but don't know enough to talk with your doctor, use the link above to order my two-tape set which will give you the info you need as well as the music you need! You'll be so glad you did!

It's in the news again!

To my delight, there was an article in Wednesday's paper about a study in which patients having colonoscopies brought their iPods into surgery and the earbuds were taped in place. The results were that 44 men and 38 women used less anesthesia than patients not having the music. They did report the same amount of discomfort but if anesthesia was less and discomfort was the same, it's a plus! Talk to you doctor about it today! Or order my CD, tapes, or surgery download. Let's get the word out! Alice

Grant proposal for surgery invention...now submitted

Well, I turned in my 30-page grant proposal last Friday and breathed a huuuuge sigh of relief. If I win, I will get $250,000 towards my exciting, ground-breaking, revolutionizing invention to deliver music during surgery. Please keep your fingers crossed for me or better yet, send up a little prayer. I won't know anything for at least a month. If I make the next cut, I will be invited to compete in an "Ugly Baby" contest where I go before the award committee and explain my invention with a prototype that is now being created. I'll keep you posted! Check out my CD for surgery before you need it!

An invention for music in surgery is being created

I don't want to say too much right now, but I have received a provisional patent on an invention for the direct delivery of music to the patient during surgery. Hundreds of people are extremely excited about this right now. Please stay tuned for more information! Thanks, Alice

Using Headphones for Surgery Music

Surgeons and medical staff have been using music in the OR for sometime now, but few people really consider that the patient needs music too. Or that the music that the patient needs is very different from what the surgical staff needs. While the medical staff performs surgery, they often listen to high energy upbeat music, especially for long surgeries. The patient, on the other hand, needs slow, steady, serene music that will keep their bodies relaxed and bio-rhythms stabilized. This is why headphones for the patient should really be standard procedure. I have had back surgery with a Walkman and tapes I put together and I have helped dozens of other people choose music for their surgery. If you're going to have surgery in the near future, please contact me and let me help you choose the perfect music for YOU!