To the Editor: Music is often played in operating theatres, for a variety of reasons. It has been shown to decrease the anaesthetic requirements of patients1 and the autonomic reactivity of surgeons,2 and not to interfere with laparoscopic task performance under non-clinical conditions.3 However, I have witnessed several events that have “pushed back the boundaries” of this common practice.
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- 1. Ayoub CM, Rizk LB, Yaacoub CI, et al. Music and ambient operating room noise in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia. Anesthesia Analgesia 2005; 100: 1316-1319.
- 2. Allen K, Blascovich J. Effects of music on cardiovascular reactivity among surgeons. JAMA 1994; 272: 882-884.
- 3. Moorthy K, Munz Y, Undre S, Darzi A. Objective evaluation of the effect of noise on the performance of a complex laparoscopic task. Surgery 2004; 136: 25-30; discussion, 31.
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I thank Dr Scott Aaronson (model) and Mr Brydon Dunstan (photographer) for their assistance.