Anesthesiology: Noise-Canceling Headphones Reduce the Risk of Nausea After Anesthesia
14:50 19 October, 2026Researchers from Soochow University in China have found that wearing noise-canceling headphones during minimally invasive gynecological surgery under general anesthesia may reduce the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting by 32%. The findings were presented at the Anesthesiology 2026 conference.
The study involved 192 patients aged 18 to 65. Half wore over-ear noise-canceling headphones from the start of anesthesia until the end of surgery, while the others underwent the procedure without them. All patients received the same anesthetic drugs and standard medications to prevent nausea and vomiting.
Within 48 hours of surgery, nausea and vomiting occurred in 35.4% of patients in the headphone group, compared with 52.1% of those who did not wear headphones. In addition, symptoms were less severe among patients in the first group during the first 24 hours after surgery. The researchers found no increase in adverse events.
Postoperative nausea and vomiting are common complications of anesthesia and surgery. They can hinder recovery, cause dehydration and require additional treatment. Medications are usually used to prevent these symptoms, but scientists suggest that noise in the operating room may also affect patients' condition.
"During the study, the average noise level was about 66 decibels, roughly equivalent to a loud conversation. Even under general anesthesia, the brain may continue to process sound signals, although the exact mechanism by which noise might influence postoperative nausea has not yet been established," the researchers explained.