Surgeons crank up the volume on patient care with an unexpected gadget.
Noise-canceling headphones, once used mainly by frequent flyers, are finding an unlikely new home in operating rooms across the globe. Recent studies reveal that using active noise-canceling headphones during surgeries improves the overall patient experience.
It turns out, these headphones aren’t just for music listening. They can also reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption, while also speeding up recovery.
The Science Behind the Method
The effectiveness of ANC headphones in surgical settings is rooted in their ability to minimize environmental stress on patients.
This development comes at a crucial time, as noise levels in hospital operating rooms have been going up due to new medical equipment.
In fact, studies show that during abdominal surgeries, average noise levels often exceed the recommended limit of 55 decibels.
Researchers have found that these noise levels alone can cause more pain after surgery. That is because, even under general anesthesia, patients’ auditory cortex remains active.
So, isolating patients from the noise pollution in operating rooms can reduce their stress response to surgical injury.
Diverse Surgical Applications
The benefits of noise reduction extend across various surgical disciplines, as shown by tests in different operations.
In orthopedic procedures where patients remain conscious under spinal anesthesia, using soundproof headphones led to less time in the recovery room.
A study involving 184 patients undergoing orthopedic surgery under spinal anesthesia found that those wearing soundproof headphones experienced improved physiological indices. These included lower blood pressure and heart rate changes, and higher breathing rates and oxygen levels.
For laparoscopic surgeries under general anesthesia, the impact was equally impressive.
A randomized clinical trial with 90 patients revealed that those using noise-canceling headphones experienced significantly lower maximum movement-evoked pain scores (2.7 vs 4.0 on a 10-point scale). Not only that, they also required less postoperative opioid medication (44.2 mg vs 51.3 mg).
But the most striking results came from hand surgeries where patients are awake.
In a study of 50 patients, those wearing noise-cancelling headphones and listening to music reported significantly less intraoperative anxiety (1.02 vs 2.32 on a 10-point scale). They also had a greater decrease in anxiety from pre-op to intra-op (-1.78 vs -0.56).
Yet, this tech isn’t just for these surgeries. Similar good results have been seen in other medical procedures. This includes using shockwave lithotripsy for nephrolithiasis treatment and transrectal prostate biopsies.
In these cases, patients using ANC headphones with music reported lower anxiety and pain scores compared to control groups.
Patient Outcomes: Pain Reduction, Decreased Opioid Use, and Faster Recovery
All these improvements add up to huge benefits. Patients feel less pain, need fewer strong pain drugs, and get better faster.
The psychological benefits are clear as well. In the hand surgery study, 92% of patients who used headphones said they would tell others to use them for similar surgeries.
Notably, Patients who were already diagnosed with anxiety before surgery got even more help from using noise-cancelling headphones. This subgroup experienced a greater decrease in anxiety levels compared to anxious patients who didn’t use headphones.
Physiological indicators also support these subjective reports.
In a study on prostate samples, patients using ANC headphones with music kept steady blood pressure throughout the procedure. Those without headphones had higher blood pressure.
Implementation Challenges and Future Directions
Despite the promising results, making ANC headphones a normal part of surgery has some problems. There are concerns about reduced communication between surgical staff and patients, especially in surgeries where patient feedback is important.
But researchers think the possible benefits are much bigger than these worries.
They suggest that this non-pharmacological intervention could be a game-changer in the approach to perioperative care. It offers a simple, cost-effective method to improve patient outcomes.