Noise cancelling headphones during surgery reduce post operative vomiting risks

Patients who wear noise cancelling headphones while on the operating table face a lower risk of nausea and vomiting after surgery, New Scientist reported. Post operative nausea and vomiting remain common problems for surgical patients, which may be partly caused by noises in the operating room. [1]

The research indicates that patients suffer fewer unpleasant side effects when their ears are protected from ambient medical sounds during surgical procedures. According to New Scientist, the findings apply even while patients are under general anaesthetic. [1]

New Scientist reported that this simple intervention supports the idea that the human brain continues to process surrounding sounds even when a person is not consciously aware of their environment. [1]

Researchers described the resulting data as really encouraging, noting that the outcome aligns with decades of prior research into how the brain processes auditory information during unconsciousness. [1]