Effect of noise isolation using noise-cancelling headphones during laparoscopic surgery for postoperative pain reduction: A randomized clinical trial

Study objective: Most laparoscopic surgeries under general anesthesia are performed in noisy environments, although the effect of intraoperative noise reduction on postoperative pain remains uncertain. This study aimed to explore whether postoperative pain could be reduced through the intraoperative use of noise-cancelling headphones.

Design: This study was conducted as a prospective parallel-group randomized clinical trial.

Setting: Operating room and surgery room.

Patients: Ninety patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia.

Interventions: In the intervention group, noise-cancelling headphones were used to reduce noise intensity during laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia.

Measurements: The primary outcome was the maximum movement-evoked pain intensity within 24 h post-surgery, measured using a 10-point numeric rating scale. Secondary outcomes included the maximum resting pain score and total opioid consumption during the 24-h period post-surgery. Mean intraoperative noise and the proportion of intraoperative time with noise intensity ≥70 dB were recorded.

Main results: The maximum movement-evoked pain score was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (mean score [SD], 2.7 [1.0] and 4.0[1.0], respectively; P < 0.001). The intervention group required significantly fewer opioids than the control group (mean [SD], 44.2 [12.8] and 51.3[17.5] mg, respectively; P = 0.032). In the control group, but not the intervention group, all postoperative pain scores were significantly associated with the proportion of intraoperative time with noise intensity ≥70 dB, which was an independent risk factor for postoperative pain.

Conclusion: During laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia, intraoperative noise isolation using noise-cancelling headphones is a safe and effective strategy for relieving postoperative pain and decreasing total opioid analgesic consumption.