Postoperative nausea and vomiting (POBK) according to ASPAN (American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses) are Nausea and vomiting seen in the first 24 hours after surgery (1). While PONV is seen in 20-30% of patients after general anesthesia, this rate increases up to 80% in high-risk patients (2). PONV, which is the second most common postoperative complaint after pain, is a stressful and uncomfortable situation for patients, but it can cause serious complications. These complications are; dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, acid-base imbalance, pulmonary aspiration, pneumothorax, hypoxia, esophageal rupture, increased intracranial pressure, suture rupture, bleeding (3). Due to the long duration of general anesthesia and the use of high-dose opioids, the incidence of PONV is higher in some types of surgery (eg, abdominal surgeries) (4). Recent studies have shown that laparoscopic, gynecological and cholecystectomy surgeries are high-risk surgeries in terms of PONV (5).

While obesity ranks second among the preventable causes of death in the world, bariatric surgery is seen as the most effective method in the treatment of morbid obesity (6). Bariatric surgeries are surgeries that carry a high risk in terms of PONC, since they are abdominal surgery, performed under general anesthesia, and the laparoscopic method is preferred. Antiemetics can be used in high-risk patients after risk factors are determined to prevent PONV. However, due to complications, the effectiveness of the use of antiemetic drugs in the management of PONC remains limited (7). Published guidelines on PONC management recommend the use of non-pharmacological methods in addition to pharmacological treatment in patients at high risk for PONV. Some of the complementary methods used to prevent PONV are acupuncture, aromatherapy, acupressure, progressive relaxation exercises, hypnosis, massage, and music therapy (7). It has been reported in the literature that music therapy is a non-pharmacological nursing practice that is used to manage nausea-vomiting and the severity of symptoms, has no side effects, is easy to use (8). In addition, it has been noted that music therapy has positive effects on analgesic requirement, hospital stay, reducing fatigue and the use of antiemetic drugs (8). Çetinkaya's study to determine the effect of music on the severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy showed that listening to music reduces the severity of nausea and the frequency of nausea (9). According to a randomized controlled study conducted by Madson and Silverman in a group of 58 solid organ transplant patients, less nausea and vomiting were found in the music therapy group (10). In a study conducted by Nilsson et al. on hysterectomy patients who underwent general anesthesia in the intraoperative period, it was observed that music did not affect nausea and vomiting (11). In another study by Laurion and Fetzer, it was reported that music had no effect on PONV (12). In the fourth consensus guideline on the treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting, it has been reported that music is not an effective prophylactic method for PONV, but this information is based on a single randomized controlled study (12,13). When the literature is examined, it has been determined that there is no common view on the use of music therapy as a complementary method in the management of PONV and more studies should be done on this subject.