Music medicine is a non-pharmacologic intervention that is virtually harm-free, relatively inexpensive, and has been shown to decrease preoperative anxiety significantly. In a new study, scientists plan to contrast music with midazolam as a preoperative anxiolytic before administering an ultrasound-guided single-injection peripheral nerve block.
The study suggests that music may offer an option in contrast to a medication routinely used to calm the nerves before using regional anesthesia.
Music medicine has been used to lower preoperative anxiety before but has not been directly compared with intravenous midazolam.
When tested, scientists found that music shows similar impacts as the sedative midazolam in reducing anxiety before a peripheral nerve block- a kind of anesthetic method done under ultrasound guidance, intended to numb a particular body region.
Preoperative anxiety is common, and it can raise levels of stress hormones in the body, which in turn can affect recovery after surgery. It is usually treated with benzodiazepines, such as midazolam. But these drugs have side effects, including changing breathing, disturbing blood flow, and paradoxically increasing levels of agitation and hostility.
For the study, scientists assigned 157 adults to receive either 1-2 mg of midazolam (80), injected 3 minutes before the use of a peripheral nerve block, or to listen to Marconi Union’s Weightless series of music via noise-canceling headphones (77) for the same period.
Anxiety levels were scored utilizing an approved measure (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-6, or STAI-6 for short) before and after using each anxiety-calming method. Satisfaction among patients and specialists was scored on a 10-point scale, with 0 showing the least satisfaction.
The change in the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-6 (STAI-6) anxiety scores was similar in both groups after to before the procedure.
However, patients in the music group seemed less satisfied than those given midazolam, maybe because they could not choose the music they listened to.
On the other hand, doctors in both groups seem to have the same satisfaction levels.
Also, both patient and physician perceptions of difficulties in communication were higher in the music group than in the midazolam group.
Nevertheless, their findings prompt them to conclude that music may be offered as an alternative to midazolam before carrying out a regional nerve block.
Scientists noted, “However, further studies are warranted to evaluate whether or not the type of music, as well as how it is delivered, offers advantages over midazolam that outweigh the increase in communication barriers.”