The effect of live classical piano music on the vital signs of patients undergoing ophthalmic surgery.
BACKGROUND
Music and surgery.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of live classical piano music on vital signs of patients undergoing ophthalmic surgery.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
203 patients who underwent various ophthalmologic procedures in a period during which a piano was present in the operating room of St. Francis Medical Center. [Note: St. Francis Medical Center has recently been renamed Hawaii Medical Center East.]


METHODS
Demographic data, surgical procedures, and the vital signs of 203 patients who underwent ophthalmic procedures were obtained from patient records. Blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate measured in the preoperative holding area were compared with the same parameters taken in the operating room, with and without exposure to live piano music. A paired t-test was used for statistical analysis.


METHODS
Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate.


RESULTS
115 patients who were exposed to live piano music showed a statistically significant decrease in mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate in the operating room compared with their vital signs measured in the preoperative holding area (P < .0001). The control group of 88 patients not exposed to live piano music showed a statistically significant increase in mean arterial blood pressure (P < .0002) and heart rate and respiratory rate (P < .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Live classical piano music lowered the blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate in patients undergoing ophthalmic surgery.
Camara
Jorge G
JG
Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Hawaii-John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. jordegcam@yahoo.com
Ruszkowski
Joseph M
JM
Worak
Sandra R
SR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012064:Relaxation Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012119:Respiration; D012189:Retrospective Studies