Noise-canceling headphones cut post-surgery nausea by 32%

Patients who wore noise-canceling headphones during surgery had less nausea and vomiting afterward, the American Society of Anesthesiologists reports. In the 48 hours after surgery, 35.4% of headphone wearers had symptoms versus 52.1% of those without, in a trial of 192 adults undergoing minimally invasive gynecological surgery.

• Nausea within 48 hours: 35.4% with headphones vs 52.1% without
• The trial covered 192 adults, all given the same anesthesia and anti-nausea medication
• Operating room noise averaged about 66 decibels
• Commercially available over-ear headphones were used, no special equipment needed