New research published in the International Journal of Surgery found that a surgeon’s performance in the operating room could be significantly boosted by listening to classical music during surgery.
According to the research out of Dundee University, many surgeons and patients saw benefits when classical music was played during a surgical operation. The study looked at a collection of 18 international studies on the subject and found that playing classical music at a low to medium volume during surgery can boost surgical success rates. According to researchers, surgeons who listened to classical music like Mozart or Bach saw that:
- Surgical accuracy increased by up to 11 percent.
- Surgeries were completed 10 percent quicker.
- Patients needed fewer painkillers or anesthetic while music was playing.
Researchers say the findings are further proof of what’s commonly known as the “Mozart effect,”which states that gentle music can help to reduce stress levels and help individuals operate more efficiently.
Not Just Any Music
While Mozart and other classical musicians helped to make surgeries safer and more efficient, simply putting music on in the operating won’t necessarily make surgery safer. In fact, the same study found that loud or high-beat music in the operating room was linked in an increased risk of post-operative infections.
So if your foot or ankle surgeon asks if it’s alright if they turn on some music during your operation, it may be in your best interest to say yes, just make sure they put on Mozart, not Metallica!
