Not All Sounds Have Negative Effects on Children Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the role of music therapy on the level of stress in children undergoing repair of congenital heart disease.

Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.

Setting: Children's university hospital.

Participants: Fifty children aged 4 to 12 years undergoing repair of congenital heart disease.

Interventions: Patients were randomized into 2 equal groups (control group and music group); in the control group, patients listened to a blank CD, and in the music group, patients listened to a recorded CD of music and songs preferred by the child. Demographic data, clinical data, and preoperative vital signs were recorded. Baseline stress markers (blood glucose and cortisol levels) were sampled. Patients were assessed intraoperatively until extubation for vital signs and stress markers and after extubation for pain and sedation scales. An interview was conducted within the first postoperative week with the patients and their parents for assessment of post-traumatic stress disorder and negative postoperative behavior changes.

Measurements and main results: There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics, clinical data, vital signs, preoperative and at-extubation blood glucose levels, and preoperative blood cortisol levels between groups. Significant differences were found between groups in blood glucose levels and cortisol levels at all intraoperative times, but only in cortisol blood levels at extubation. Significant differences were found in pain score, sedation score, occurrence of child post-traumatic stress disorder, and occurrence of negative postoperative behavior.

Conclusion: Listening to favorable music by children undergoing repair for congenital heart disease resulted in less stress and more relaxation.