In an operating theatre in Delhi, a patient under general anaesthesia lies still as surgeons prepare to remove her gallbladder. Though unconscious due to a combination of drugs that induce sleep, block pain, and relax muscles, she listens to soft flute music through headphones.
This auditory input activates brain pathways despite sedation, helping reduce the amount of anaesthetic drugs like propofol and opioid painkillers needed, which speeds up recovery.
A study from Maulana Azad Medical College found that patients undergoing laparoscopic gallbladder removal who listened to music required lower doses of anaesthetics, experienced smoother recoveries, and had better blood pressure control and reduced stress hormone levels.
The research showed that even while unconscious, the brain processes music, which can positively influence the internal state and lessen physiological stress responses.
Modern anaesthesia uses multiple drugs combined with nerve blocks to ensure unconsciousness and pain relief. However, surgery elicits a stress response, including raised heart rate and hormone surges, especially during intubation—the insertion of a breathing tube—which remains highly stressful despite unconsciousness.
Music therapy appears to mitigate this stress response, reducing drug needs and fostering a calmer recovery.
In the study, 56 adults were randomly assigned to wear noise-cancelling headphones during surgery; only one group listened to calming flute or piano music. The unconscious mind’s responsiveness to sound means that, even without memory of the music, patients benefit from reduced anxiety and enhanced recovery.
Music therapy, already used in psychiatry and rehabilitation, is emerging as a valuable, non-pharmacological addition to anaesthesia care, humanising the surgical experience and improving patient outcomes.