How an Intensivist ends putting a DVD player between the connection of perfusion pumps, extruders of the respirator and haemofiltration machine?

All begins with a reflection: our aim is patients survive the ICU. Yes, but is cost?
To overcome an ICU admission is a great biological wear in many cases, the recovery of physical sequelae also carries an important work, but what about psychological sequelae?. What about the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

Up to two years, I have not even imagined that I had something to do with our patients. An ICU admission can be seen as such a threat to the life, which is considered as a comparable trauma as suffering a natural disaster, becoming a victim of an act of aggression or an attack… I couldn’t believe it.

How the attempt to do so much good could cause so much damage?.

The more you read about PTSD and “stressors” at UCI, the more previous ideas in the head of an intensivist as me l get messed. Collecting bibliography and information, a few concepts continuously are repeated: too much sedation and oversedation, abstinence syndrome, anxiety, fear, noise, noise, fear, agitation, delirium…


And suddenly, a great surprise: I read about a “Medicine” with deep and proven effect on pain, delirium, agitation, anxiety, fear… Easy to apply, very cheap, and without adverse effects and whose benefits transcend the patient and also benefit to the healthworkers… IT WAS THE PERFECT DRUG! The administration rute is not oral or intravenous…It is not even know at the pharmacy of the Hospital!

Music in the ICU?

According to the World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT) “Music therapy is the professional use of music and its elements as an intervention in medical, educational, and everyday environments with persons, groups, families, or communities, seeking to optimize their quality of life and improve their physical, social, communicative, emotional and intellectual health and well-being. Research, practice, education, and clinical instruction in music therapy are based on professional standards according to the cultural, social and political contexts.” 



Music does not cure, but care. It reduces the level of anxiety, the perception of pain, increases the level of self-esteem, empowert expressive capabilities patient retains, provides a way to manage emotions, activates sensory, affective and cognitive processes, promotes well-being and quality of life… and there is scientific evidence of all.


Is is another ICU possible?

It is not a dream, it is already happening. Music therapy in the IC-HU for anxiety, pain,relax, escape or connect with reality.

From the project 1 year: 12 months for 12 commintments of the ICU of Infanta Margarita Hospital this month our commitment is music:

Let the music sound in the IC-HU!!!



Maria Rojas, MD.
Intensive Care Physician.
Hospital Comarcal Infanta Margarita, Córdoba