Assessment of the effects of a taped cognitive behavior message on postoperative complications (therapeutic suggestions under anesthesia)

Background: The authors studied whether playing a taped cognitive-behavior message during and immediately following bariatric surgery will improve per formance of a postoperative regimen designed to enhance recovery. Methods: The double-blinded placebo-controlled study consisted of 27 morbid ly obese bariatric surgical patients randomly assigned to listen to either a blank (Controls) or a positive therapeutic message audiotape (Tape). A Po stoperative Regimen Checklist (PRC) quantified different parts of the posto perative recovery regimen. Results: The data showed that patients in the Tape group, compared to the C ontrols: 1) achieved better scores at most PRC assessment points (p<0.05), 2) required less encouragement to perform tasks (p<0.05), and 3) were disch arged from the hospital a mean of 1.6 days earlier. Conclusions: A taped cognitive-behavioral message, played to patients repet itively during and immediately following bariatric surgery, is effective in enhancing postoperative compliance and reducing in-patient length of stay.