Effect of Intraoperative Instrumental Music and Operating Room Noise Reduction on Anesthetic and Analgesic Requirements in Pediatric Patients Aged 3-18 Years Undergoing Surgery Under General Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the effects of intraoperative instrumental music and operating room noise reduction on anesthetic and analgesic requirements in pediatric patients aged 3-18 years undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia. A total of 180 patients will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: an instrumental music group, a noise reduction group, or a routine care control group. In the music group, patients will be exposed to instrumental music through headphones during surgery. In the noise reduction group, operating room noise levels will be minimized using a standardized acoustic management protocol. The control group will receive standard anesthetic care without any acoustic intervention. All patients will undergo standardized general anesthesia. The primary outcomes will be intraoperative volatile anesthetic consumption (sevoflurane use and MAC values) and opioid requirements. Secondary outcomes will include hemodynamic parameters, postoperative pain scores, emergence delirium, and post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay. The study does not involve any experimental drugs, invasive procedures, or additional risks beyond routine clinical care. The findings may help determine whether simple non-pharmacological acoustic interventions can reduce anesthetic and analgesic requirements and improve perioperative outcomes in pediatric patients.

Inclusion Criteria:Children aged 3 to 18 years Scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II Expected surgical duration between 30 minutes and 4 hours Eligibility for standardized general anesthesia management No contraindication to the use of headphones or acoustic interventions Written informed consent obtained from a parent or legal guardian Assent obtained from children when appropriate according to age and cognitive capacity - Exclusion Criteria: Emergency surgery ASA physical status III or higher Significant neurological disorders or developmental delay Severe cognitive impairment preventing appropriate assessment Epilepsy or disorders associated with increased sensitivity to auditory stimulation Moderate to severe hearing impairment or active ear disease Chronic use of opioids, sedatives, or psychoactive medications Severe cardiac, hepatic, or renal dysfunction Refusal of participation by the parent, legal guardian, or patient \-