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Effects of Music on Pain and Autonomic Functions of Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, Nausea and Vomiting After Major Surgery—Meta-analysis

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of music on patients’ heart rate, blood pressure, nausea and vomiting in the intraoperative and perioperative period. We searched randomised clinical trials (RCT) and controlled clinical trials and abstracts of major conferences comparing music with placebo from Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase and Scopus using key words music, surgery, intraoperative, postoperative pain, heart rate, blood pressure, nausea and vomiting. Our last search was on 30th May 2020. We included patients of all ages admitted for any kind of surgery. Quality of trials was assessed using Cochrane collaboration tools. Results and data were screened and assessed independently. Outcome parameters were levels of pain, heart rate, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, nausea and vomiting during and after surgery.

We included 67 trials. Music reduced pain (mean difference random effects − 0.72, 95% CI − 1.01 to − 0.42) and heart rate (Std mean difference random effects − 0.37, 95% CI − 0.66 to − 0.08) compared to controls. However, there was no association between music and systolic/diastolic blood pressure, nausea or vomiting.

The reduction of pain sensation and heart rate in the perioperative period may indicate a positive effect of playing music to patients in a surgical setting. Further research is needed to specify how such measures could be best integrated into anaesthesiological procedures to alleviate stress for patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Innovation and Research, Hospital Melaka, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Mufti Haji Khalil, 75400, Melaka, Malaysia

    Thanigasalam Thevi

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, MAHSA University, Jalan SP2 Bandar Saujana Putra, 42610, Jenjarom Selangor, Malaysia

    Thanigasalam Thevi

  3. Dean’s Office/Department of Community Medicine, Melaka Manipal Medical College/Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Melaka, Malaysia

    Adinegara Lutfi Abas

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Frankfurt Hoechst Eye Hospital, Klinikum Frankfurt Am Main (Höchst), Gotenstr. 6-9, 65929, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Urs Vossmerbaeumer

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  1. Thanigasalam Thevi
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TT—Concept and design, acquisition of data, data analysis and interpretation, drafting of manuscript and critical revision, approval of final version of manuscript.

ALA—Concept and design, acquisition of data, data analysis and interpretation, drafting of manuscript and critical revision, approval of final version of manuscript.

UV—Drafting of manuscript and critical revision, approval of final version of manuscript.

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Correspondence to Thanigasalam Thevi.

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Thevi, T., Abas, A.L. & Vossmerbaeumer, U. Effects of Music on Pain and Autonomic Functions of Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, Nausea and Vomiting After Major Surgery—Meta-analysis. Indian J Surg 84, 640–651 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12262-021-03032-5

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