WHAT'S PLAYING? A researcher studied the link between the music played during surgery and how well an OR team works together.

Anesthesiologists like classical music, jazz and the blues while they work, and they tend to keep it quiet. Surgeons, on the other hand, turn up the volume on top 40 tunes, according to a study published online by the journal Surgery.

These preferences aren't as trivial as they may seem. Lead author Claudius Conrad, MD, PhD, who's been playing the piano since age 5, found that surgical soundtracks have an impact on how well an OR team communicates, concentrates and otherwise works together.

Dr. Conrad, a surgeon at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and colleagues in Houston, Boston and Tokyo surveyed 390 physicians, residents and nurses as well as 282 patients in pre-op about their musical preferences.

"As surgeons we strive to make the operating room the safest place possible for our patients," says Dr. Conrad. Since "surgery demands cognitively and technically complex skills while also requiring broad team coordination to synchronize tasks," an understanding of OR team members' differing preferences could help to improve surgical workflow.

For example, he notes, a surgeon's favorite music can help to sustain his efficiency and energy throughout a procedure, while lower volumes help anesthesia providers stay aware of critical signals.

"Practically speaking, our results suggest that classical music in particular, when played at an appropriate volume, could be a suitable option for the heterogeneous work environment of the OR," says Dr. Conrad. "While it may not be the best option for each individual provider, it might be one of the best 'common denominators' in music choice."

David Bernard