Dec. 2, 1999
In our minds, does music soothe the savage beast and take away the pain?
Clinical trials are just beginning at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City to find out, scientifically, if it really happens when patients go through major surgery.
Science Specialist Ed Yeates lends an ear.
DAY 1:
Joseph Atbert from Louisiana has never had heart surgery before, and he's never done this before either. In his hosptial room on the eve before his surgery he put on a headset to listen to music of his own choosing - something soothing and relaxing.
Joseph Atbert/Patient: "I FEEL A LOT CALMER. I DON'T HAVE AS MUCH ANXIETY."
Down the hall, Steven Thomas from Salt Lake is doing the same thing but with an assigned audio tape, he's listening to a soft female voice train him how to relax.
Steven and Joseph agreed to participate in a unique experiment which before it ends, will test the therapy on more than 100 patients. Even the night before their major open heart surgeries, both got a taste of how it works.
Steven Thomas/Patient: "EVEN AS SHE WAS TALKING I WAS SUBCONSCIOUSLY STARTING TO BREATHE THE WAY SHE WAS SAYING TO BREATHE AND HOLD MY BREATH."
ED YEATES, SCIENCE SPECIALIST: "IT ISN'T DIFFICULT FOR SURGEONS TO RECOGNIZE WHO'S PARTICIPATING IN THESE CLINICAL TRIALS. ONCE THEY REACH O.R., THEY'RE THE ONLY PATIENTS WEARING HEADSETS."
DAY 2:
Except for preparations before, the headsets stay on the whole time - through surgery and afterwards during post-op recovery.
Steven Rhondeau, M.D./Anesthesiologist: "THERE ARE STUDIES WHICH SHOW THAT IF YOU CAN CONTROL A PATIENT'S ANXIETY THROUGH NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL MEANS THAT YOU CAN LESSEN THE AMOUNT OF ANAESTHESIA THAT THEY REQUIRE AND ALSO DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF PAIN MEDICATION THAT THEY NEED."
During surgery, Joseph and Steven listen to music only - but Steven recalls the verbal instructions given to him on another tape the night before.
Claudia Campbell, R.N./LDS Hospital Pain Clinic: "THAT AS THEY LISTEN TO THAT BACKGROUND MUSIC ONLY DURING THE OPERATION THAT THERE IS SOME RECOLLECTION OR SOME KIND OF A CUE TO THE MIND THAT THEY REMEMBER THOSE INSTRUCTIONS TO RELAX AND BE CALM."
So did it work?
Steven Thomas was still groggy afterwards - but he had no doubts.
Steven Thomas: "IT'S CALMING INFLUENCE - YOU JUST KEEP FINDING YOURSELF FOLLOWING ALONG WITH WHAT THEY'RE SAYING. IT'S A GOOD IDEA. I MEAN I COULD JUST SEE THE DIFFERENCE ALL THE TIME."
In fact, Steven didn't want the headset removed.
When finished with the clinical trial, LDS Hospital researchers will compare all the patients with a control group of people who never get the music - to make sure the conclusions on the study are valid.
Links To More Info on Music Therapy:
