Music to a patient's ears
Surgeons 'perform better when listening to their favourite songs'
Whether its the Beatles, Beethoven or the Backstreet Boys, music it seems, improves a surgeon's performance in the operating theatre.
A new study has revealed those doctors who listened to their favourite songs while performing a set procedure, had better surgical technique and efficiency.
That is, their stitches were better and faster, researchers at the University of Texas said.
From classical to rock, music can be heard in operating rooms across the world.
While previous studies have shown that listening to music during operations can lower the stress levels of surgeons, there is limited information on the effects of music on technical performance while completing a surgical task, such as closing incisions.
Stitching prowess and speed is especially important for plastic surgeons.
To arrive at their conclusions, researchers examined the performance of 15 plastic surgeons.
They were asked to close incisions with layered stitches on pigs' feet, obtained at a local food market.
The scientists chose pigs' feet, because it is widely accepted they are similar to human skin.
The trainee doctors were not informed of the purpose of the study.
They were asked to do their best and to notify researchers as soon a they completed the closure.
The following day, the residents were asked to repeat the procedure using identical technique with their favourite music either turned on or off, in opposition to their first closure.
Dr Shelby Lies, who was involved in the study, said: 'We recognised that our subjects could potentially improve on the second repair simply as the result of repetition.
'This effect was reduced by randomly assigning the residents to two groups, music first and no music first.'
The average repair completion time for all residents was seven per cent shorter when their preferred music was playing.
This effect was magnified as the experience of the surgeon grew.
Playing their favourite music led to a 10 per cent reduction of repair time for senior residents, compared to an eight per cent time reduction seen in the junior residents.
Dr Lies said: 'Spending less time in the operating room can translate into significant cost reductions, particularly when incision closure is a large portion of the procedure, such as in a tummy tuck.
'Longer duration under general anesthesia is also linked with increased risk of adverse events for the patient.'
The quality of the work was judged by plastic surgeons who did not know whose work they were analysing or other conditions of the study.
The judges' ratings confirmed an overall improvement in repair quality while music was played, regardless of whether the resident did the repair with their music first or second.
Dr Andrew Zhang, assistant professor of surgery at the university, said: 'Our study confirmed that listening to the surgeon's preferred music improves efficiency and quality of wound closure, which may translate to health care cost savings and better patient outcomes.'
The study is currently available in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.