Music to Operate By

The use of patients' favorite music during surgery has been shown to lessen the need for sedation. The New York Times' examination of the use of music in operating rooms points to studies showing that music improves surgeons' performance.

While preferences vary widely, it's hard to argue with Dr. William B. Inabnet's take on the Red Hot Chili Peppers. "That's good pancreas music," he says. He favors upbeat music for more complicated operations, but ordinarily would rather listen to jazz standards. He names John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, and Billie Holiday as favorites.

Dr. Marc Bessler puts in a vote for Abba, adding, "There's no gangsta rap in my O.R."

Dr. Paul Ruggieri said he's in a Sinatra and Diana Krall phase, but likes "Smoke In The Water" when he's in a "hyped mood".

The retired Dr. Nas Eftekhar used Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" to help him time key moments during joint replacement surgeries.

Meanwhile, in St. Paul, a surgeon plays reggae for "closing" during brain surgery.

John Coltrane - Acknowledgment (available on Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: John Coltrane)

Boston Symphony - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - Allegro (available on Mozart: The Greatest Hits)

Elefant - Why (available on the Scrubs 2 soundtrack by digital download and on Elefant's The Black Magic Show)

Abba - Waterloo (available on ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits)

Diana Krall - Temptation (available on The Girl In The Other Room)