Noise-Canceling Headphones Reduced the Risk of Nausea After Gynecological Surgery by 32%

The study included 192 patients aged 18 to 65. Half wore standard over-ear noise-canceling headphones from the time they were given anesthesia until the end of surgery. The remaining participants underwent surgery without headphones. All patients received the same anesthesia and standard medications to prevent nausea and vomiting.

Within 48 hours of surgery, nausea or vomiting occurred in 35.4% of patients who wore headphones, compared with 52.1% of those in the control group. This represented an approximately 32% lower risk of these complications. In practical terms, using headphones prevented about 17 cases of postoperative nausea and vomiting per 100 patients. In addition, symptoms were less severe during the first 24 hours after surgery among patients who wore headphones. No increase in adverse events was observed in this group.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting are among the most common and unpleasant consequences of surgery and anesthesia. They can lead to dehydration, slow recovery, require additional medication and prolong stays in the recovery room. Anesthetics and painkillers are known to increase the risk of these complications. However, the researchers suggest that noise in the operating room may also play a role.

The average noise level in the operating rooms during the study was approximately 66 decibels — somewhere between the volume of a normal conversation and that of a vacuum cleaner running nearby. However, the mechanisms through which sound may affect the body while a patient is under anesthesia remain poorly understood.