A recent study published in the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery has found that adding music therapy to a structured anesthesia recovery protocol can help patients recover more quickly and safely after colorectal cancer surgery.
The research focused on individuals undergoing laparoscopic radical resection for colorectal cancer. Patients who received both music therapy and specialized anesthesia recovery care woke up faster from anesthesia, required earlier removal of breathing tubes, spent less time in post-anesthetic care, and had smaller increases in blood pressure and heart rate during recovery compared to those who received standard nursing care alone.
Colorectal cancer is a significant health issue globally, especially in China where rectal cancer rates are high and rising among younger adults. Many patients experience symptoms like abdominal pain and rectal bleeding, which affect quality of life. Often, the disease is diagnosed at later stages due to its silent progression.
Laparoscopic radical resection is commonly used because it causes less trauma and helps patients recover sooner. However, general anesthesia can disturb physiological balance and may lead to agitation as patients wake up. While standard nursing practices aim to address these issues, their effectiveness can be limited.
Music therapy has been shown to provide psychological comfort and support physical recovery. Structured anesthesia recovery care includes proactive measures such as patient education, psychological support, temperature management, careful monitoring, and tailored sedation or pain relief.
The study involved 120 colorectal cancer patients treated between January 2022 and May 2024 at a single hospital. Participants were split into two groups: one received standard perioperative nursing care; the other received additional music therapy sessions—featuring calming music played twice daily—and enhanced anesthesia recovery protocols.
All participants had similar baseline characteristics including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), tumor stage, type of anesthetic drugs used, and surgical team involvement. Strict inclusion criteria ensured that only suitable candidates participated in the study.
Results showed that those receiving the combined intervention experienced quicker awakening from anesthesia and fewer complications such as shivering, hypothermia, nausea, vomiting, or agitation upon emergence from anesthesia. Only 10% of these patients developed complications compared with 40% in the group receiving standard care alone.
Biochemical indicators like cortisol and adrenaline also increased less in the intervention group after surgery—suggesting reduced stress responses—while overall functional recovery scores were higher across several domains including cognitive function and emotional well-being.
The authors note: "Together, these results indicate that integrating music therapy with enhanced anesthesia recovery care supports faster, more stable, and safer postoperative recovery for colorectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery."
They add: "Despite these limitations [such as small sample size], the results support the clinical value of integrating music therapy into standard perioperative care to enhance recovery and reduce complications."
The researchers recommend further studies with larger patient groups over longer periods to confirm these findings’ durability and wider applicability.
