The researchers’ aims were to reduce anxiety associated with spinal anesthesia and to evaluate the use of earplugs in reducing the amount of propofol necessary to keep a patient continuously sedated in a noisy environment and to evaluate whether earplugs could reduce intraoperative awareness recall, according to the article.
Fifty patients undergoing orthopedic surgery were randomized to two groups and told that they would probably experience some intraoperative awareness during the procedure. In the group that received earplugs, once a bispectral index score of 70 was reached, an independent investigator placed the paraffin earplugs into the patient’s ear. Ears were covered in all patients by an OR cap before the anesthesiologist entered the room.
The researchers found no significant differences in the amount of propofol administered during surgery in the plug and no-plug groups. However, during a post-operative interview the day following surgery, 56 percent of patients in the no-plug group recalled instances of intraoperative awareness, compared with 16 percent of the plug group.
Although the study did not find any sedative-sparing evidence associated with earplugs, the researchers still recommended use of the plugs in orthopedic surgery to protect patients against harmful OR noise and intraoperative recall.
Read the study on the use of earplugs to decrease intraoperative awareness.
