Noise-Canceling Headphones During Gynecologic Surgery Linked to Less Postoperative Nausea
A randomized trial presented at Anesthesiology 2026 found that patients who wore noise-canceling headphones during minimally invasive gynecological surgery under general anesthesia were less likely to develop postoperative nausea and vomiting. In the 48 hours after surgery, 35.4% of the headphone group experienced PONV compared with 52.1% of the control group, a 32% relative risk reduction. The researchers suggested that reducing noise in the operating room could give anesthesiologists a non-drug option for preventing PONV.
The trial enrolled 192 adults aged 18–65 having minimally invasive gynecological procedures under general anesthesia. Participants were split randomly: one group used commercially available over-ear noise-canceling headphones from anesthesia induction until surgery finished, while the other group did not. Both groups received identical anesthesia and standard anti-nausea medication.
Postoperative nausea and vomiting occurred in 35.4% of headphone users versus 52.1% of controls within 48 hours, corresponding to roughly 17 fewer cases per 100 patients. Headphone users also reported milder symptoms in the first day. Operating room noise averaged about 66 decibels. The authors propose future work measuring actual noise exposure and physiological responses.
Count: first paragraph: The(1) trial2 enrolled3 1924 adults5 aged6 18–657 having8 minimally9 invasive10 gynecological11 procedures12 under13 general14 anesthesia15. Participants16 were17 split18 randomly19: one20 group21 used22 commercially23 available24 over-ear25 noise-canceling26 headphones27 from28 anesthesia29 induction30 until31 surgery32 finished33, while34 the35 other36 group37 did38 not39. Both40 groups41 received42 identical43 anesthesia44 and45 standard46 anti-nausea47 medication48. Good 48.
Second: Postoperative1 nausea2 and3 vomiting4 occurred5 in6 35.4%7 of8 headphone9 users10 versus11 52.1%12 of13 controls14 within15 48 16 hours17, corresponding18 to19 roughly20 17 21 fewer22 cases23 per24 100 25 patients26. H
... Need maybe no extra. Ensure "PONV" maybe define? Already in expanded? We can use PONV? The summary defines. But expanded can say postoperative nausea and vomiting. Fine. Potential issue: "anti-nausea medication" maybe standard PONV-prevention medication. Good. Need "under 120 words total" for EXPANDED. We have 103. Good. "2 short paragraphs" yes. CONTEXT under 90. Good. Need no copying source phrasing. Check phrases: "minimally invasive gynecological procedures under general anesthesia" source "minimally invasive gynecological surgery under general anesthesia" close but factual. "commercially available over-ear noise-canceling headphones" source "commercially available over-the-head noise-canceling headphones" close. Could rephrase "store-bought, over-ear noise-canceling headphones" to avoid. "from anesthesia induction until surgery finished" source "from the start of anesthesia until the surgery ended" close. Maybe okay but original wording? Let's adjust to be safer. EXPANDED: