• Michael Co, Sze Man Fong, and Yik Ching Christy Lau.
• From the Center for Education and Training, Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong.
• J. Am. Coll. Surg. 2022 Sep 1; 235 (3): 447453447-453.

BackgroundThe effect of playing background music on surgical outcomes has been controversial. This prospective case-control study aims to evaluate the impact of music tempo in general surgical settings.Study DesignSix hundred consecutive patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer receiving breast cancer surgery have been recruited since April 2017. Patients were then assigned to 3 arms in consecutive order. The surgeon operated without music in study arm A; the surgeon operated with slow music in study arm B; and in study arm C, the surgeon operated with fast background music. Patients' clinical records were reviewed by an independent blinded assessor.ResultsBaseline demographic data were comparable among the 3 study arms. Seven (3.5%) patients from study arm A developed minor complications (Clavien-Dindo class I and II); none developed major complications (Clavien-Dindo class III or above). Six (3.0%) patients from study arm B and C, respectively (slow/fast music groups), developed minor complications; none developed a major complication. Mean blood loss was also similar among the 3 study arms (5.1, 5.1, and 5.2 mL, respectively; p > 0.05). Operating time was significantly shorter in study arm C: 115 minutes (90-145), compared with 125 minutes (100-160) in study arm A (p < 0.0001) and 120 minutes (95-155) in study arm B (p = 0.0024). After a median follow-up of 40 months (3-56), 40 months (3-56), and 39.5 months (3-56), the local recurrence rates were 1.5%, 1%, and 1%, respectively (p > 0.05).ConclusionPlaying music in the operating room is safe in general surgical settings in experienced hands.Copyright © 2022 by the American College of Surgeons. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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