“Can’t Stop the Feeling”: The Use of Music During Minor Surgery

Anyone who has been involved in minor surgical procedures for any length of time will likely have considered the use of music in the operating room. I have been playing music in my operating room for over 20 years—not just because I’m a massive Taylor Swift fan (that’s just a coincidence).

Recently, during a surgical list, I wondered whether I was playing music for my own benefit, for the patient, or for my assistant—or whether there was any actual science behind it.

The Sound of Silence (Is Overrated)

The reality is that an operating theatre without music can be as quiet as a library, with the peace broken only by the occasional sound of instruments clattering or a muttering from the surgeon.

Silence can be unnerving for a patient. Background music not only fills awkward silences but also aids in focus and reduces anxiety. A quick review of the literature reveals more evidence on this topic than one might expect.

The conclusion is that music actively reduces patient anxiety and can enhance the surgeon’s focus. Studies like the one by Narayanan and Gray (2018) describe how music has the power to maintain calm and boost concentration during procedures.

All minor operations we perform are under local anesthesia, so the patient is wide awake. Every note of music helps to drown out the unnerving sounds of surgery—a snip, a buzz, a squelch—and provides a psychological barrier for the patient against the stress of the situation.

Choosing Your Tunes

Not every track is appropriate for the operating room. Playing energetic songs like “Mr. Brightside” might set your heart racing and your foot tapping in all the wrong ways, especially if you’re about to remove a delicate cyst.

I suggest that instrumental tunes, without catchy lyrics, keep everyone’s rhythm steady and might be more conducive to a successful (unruptured) cyst removal.

My personal go-to is the “Ibiza Sunset Chill” playlist—nothing says “relax” quite like feeling as if you’re watching a beach sunset instead of being in a GP practice.

Implementing Musical Interventions

Music in the operating theatre has its own set of protocols:

• Volume: It’s about balance. You want enough volume to drown out the whirr of machines but not so loud that it becomes overwhelming or distracting.
• Selection: While we might be tempted to listen to “God’s Plan” by Drake or Taylor Swift’s latest hits, instrumental pieces or ambient sounds often make the best playlist candidates. They provide the benefits of music without the risk of lyrical distractions.
• Consensus: While it’s not a democracy, getting approval from the patient and assistant over the playlist can turn music from a potential irritant into a therapeutic tool. If they’re not fans of my chill-out tracks, I’m ready to switch to something more universally calming, like the sound of ocean waves or the “Best of Enya.”