Study finds music helps surgery patients

NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 26 (UPI) -- A Yale University study has found that patients treated to their favorite music during an operation need less anesthesia.

The Yale School of Medicine studied the reactions of a group of patients, the Washington Times reported Thursday. One-third were asked to bring a favorite compact disc. Another third went through surgery to the normal sounds of the operating room while the final group got "white noise."

Dr. Zeev Kain, an anesthesiologist and lead researcher for the study, told the newspaper he would recommend music, based on the findings.

The Times said that many surgeons have already discovered the benefits of music and some surgical centers have libraries of CD's mixed by their surgeons to provide a suitable background.

The National Institutes of Health helped fund the study.