Here's the truth about doctors listening to music in the operating room

London: Playing music during surgery can make it difficult for surgeons to communicate and increase tension between the doctors and staff, thereby putting the patients' life at risk, a new study has warned. Music is currently played in approximately 50 per cent to70 per cent of surgical operations performed worldwide, researchers said.

In the study of 20 operations conducted in the UK, repeated requests - for example, for a surgical instrument - were 5 times more likely to occur in surgeries with music than in those without music. The findings suggest that music during surgery can lead to increased tensions due to frustration at ineffective communication. In addition, patient safety could potentially be affected due to miscommunication.

"Our study shows that playing music in the operating theatre can run counter to effective communication and highlights the need to consider both positive and negative effects of music on staff and patients," said lead author Sharon Weldon, senior research officer at Imperial College London. A recent study from the University of Texas Medical Branch claimed that plastic surgeons stitch wounds faster and better when their favourite music is playing during operations. Previous studies have also shown that listening to music during operations can lower the stress levels of surgeons.

The new study was published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing.