Rock n roll ... after the operation

NST: A patient hears music, and it makes him wonder if he has been taken to the wrong place.
But, no, there is no mistake. This is the operation theatre at the Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre.
The music is anaesthetist Dr Chua Kok Seng’s idea of calming the nerves of surgeons, nurses and patients before an operation.
"One of our surgeons likes Cyndi Lauper, so I play her songs whenever she works," he said.
"Most of the time I play it safe and stick to music by great composers."
He adjusts the volume according to the intensity of the operation.
"When it becomes too intense, we turn the music low or switch it off.
"At other times, some surgeons even sing along and talk about the singers.
"It makes the environment less stressful."
Besides the preferences of the surgical team, Dr Chua also finds out whether the patients enjoy the music selected.
"This usually happens when a patient is given local anaesthesia.
"Some are allowed to bring CDs or cassettes."
Among the stars on his "operation theatre play list" are Vanessa Mae, Bond, Maksim and Beethoven.
Dr Chua said many patients were surprised.
"The atmosphere in the room is cold and frightening for some," Dr Chua, who deals mainly with obstetrics and orthopaedic surgeries.
"If patients hear music they like, instead of metal tools clanking against each other, there is a bigger chance they will stay calm."

Consultant neurosurgeon Dr Muruga Kumar, who attends the Subang Jaya Medical Centre and Gleneagles Intan, also loves to play music in the operation theatre.
He has been doing this since his days as a trainee with the Health Ministry.
"I was surprised that surgeons in Britain whom I worked with during my postgraduate days were comfortable with music in the operation theatre."
Dr Kumar said there was a misconception that music disturbed the concentration and focus of the surgeon.
"Different surgeons have different means of relaxation. To me, music helps me stay calm and more focused.
"I prefer absolute silence when I am required to make those life-threatening decisions.
"Once the last bits of the tumour are out or the aneurysm is clipped, I let down my hair and tell the team we are closing up for the day.
"That’s when we play rock music."