June 14, 2006

 

A June 10 New York Times article by Daniel Wakin explored the role of music in the operating room.

The article discussed the varying tastes and musical selections of the surgical team, how the music accompanies various parts of the surgery, and whether music can become distracting or interfere with communication.

According to the piece, "Anesthesiologists have an important say because they must hear the beeps of their own equipment...In a survey of 200 anesthesiologists...about 26 percent felt that music "reduced their vigilance" and interfered with communication. Half felt that music was distracting when they encountered a problem."

The New York Times printed a letter in response to the article from ASA member Michael Aziz, M.D. who points out that anesthesiologists are asked to prevent the rare occurrence of awareness under anesthesia, and wonders if music in the O.R. impedes the anesthesiologist's ability to keep patients asleep and unaware.