To the Editor

I was moist surprised by the tone of the letter of Dr. Evamarie Malsch that appeared in the APSF Newsletter for Fall 1990 on the use of the radio in the operating room.

Many of my patients have appreciated back ground music during procedures that require regional and/or intravenous sedation. Most of our surgeons and operating room staff have also appreciated the appropriate musical setting for their endeavors. These things do improve patient care.

Music in the operating rooms at our institution is always under the control of the anesthesiologist and this is totally dependent upon the patient’s condition and situations encountered.

I believe that when handled correctly, music may be used in the operating room without any decrease in vigilance. It all depends on the judicious use of the on/off and volume switch.

Marc B. Ehrenpreis, M.D.

Booth Memorial Medical Center, flushing, New York