EXPERT
Dr. Bernard Wittels, M.D., PH.D.
Anesthesiologist
Dr. Bernard Wittels is an anesthesiologist practicing in Evanston, IL. Dr. Wittels ensures the safety of patients who are about to undergo surgery. Anestesiologists specialize in general anesthesia, which will (put the patient to sleep), sedation, which will calm the patient or make him or her unaware of the situation, and regional anesthesia, which just numbs a specific part of the body. As an anesthesiologist, Dr. Wittels also might help manage pain after an operation.
38 years
Experience
Dr. Bernard Wittels, M.D., PH.D.
- Evanston, IL
- University Of Chicago Div Of Bio Sci Pritzker School Of Medicine
- Accepting new patients
The Silent Killer
She moves in a stealthy manner, makes no sounds, emits no scent, you insist that you don’t know her and you have no reason to be suspicious of anything. Who is this sly culprit?...
Pain-Free Labor and Delivery
Many pregnant women near their delivery date have preconceived notions about the management of their labor and delivery. Some plan a “natural” delivery, some want only intravenous...
Can anesthesia affect your teeth?
If you had dental surgery under general anesthesia, then it is quite reasonable to expect to have gum or tooth pain near the site of surgery and your dentist should have explained READ MORE
If you had dental surgery under general anesthesia, then it is quite reasonable to expect to have gum or tooth pain near the site of surgery and your dentist should have explained that as a part of obtaining consent for surgery.
Is special anesthesia used for seniors?
All well-trained anesthesiologists administer anesthesia drugs in a careful, titrated manner, so that the desired drug effects are achieved at the smallest doses possible and allow READ MORE
All well-trained anesthesiologists administer anesthesia drugs in a careful, titrated manner, so that the desired drug effects are achieved at the smallest doses possible and allow for well-balanced pain relief, quick awakening, and early discharge from the hospital, if possible.
How is a nerve block done for hand surgery?
There are many ways to block the nerves that supply innervation to the hand; among them are digital nerve blocks for finger surgery, local radial, median, or ulnar nerve blocks, READ MORE
There are many ways to block the nerves that supply innervation to the hand; among them are digital nerve blocks for finger surgery, local radial, median, or ulnar nerve blocks, or axillary nerve blocks or infraclavicular or supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks which can numb the whole arm. Your anesthesiologist can explain in detail which block will be most appropriate and how it is administered.
What are the after effects of local anesthesia?
The pain relief from the local anesthetic wears off and you need some other form of pain relief, such as pills that contain non-steroidal and/or opioid medications.
What should you avoid after general anesthesia?
Activities to avoid after general anesthesia for surgery may include surgery-related limitations and anesthesia-related limitations. The first organ to fully awaken after general READ MORE
Activities to avoid after general anesthesia for surgery may include surgery-related limitations and anesthesia-related limitations. The first organ to fully awaken after general anesthesia is the brain, but the last organ to fully awaken is the stomach and intestines, so, even though you are awake and probably are hungry with an empty stomach after general anesthesia, you should normally wait at least eight hours before eating anything, and start with small amounts. If you have outpatient surgery and are going home, some of the medications given to you for general anesthesia can alter your way of thinking (you may not be clear-headed and complex mental tasks may be difficult) so that you are routinely advised not to make any serious financial or marital decisions in the following 24 hours.
How long does it take for numbing spray to work?
You are the judge of that. When the area that is sprayed feels numb, it is working. The timing depends on the type of local anesthetic, the concentration of local anesthetic, and READ MORE
You are the judge of that. When the area that is sprayed feels numb, it is working. The timing depends on the type of local anesthetic, the concentration of local anesthetic, and the porous nature of the tissue to which it is applied.
What happens if you use too much lidocaine?
Lidocaine is formulated in concentrations and volumes to prevent administration of an overdose. When given in tissues intradermally or subcutaneously, it is almost impossible to READ MORE
Lidocaine is formulated in concentrations and volumes to prevent administration of an overdose. When given in tissues intradermally or subcutaneously, it is almost impossible to give enough lidocaine to produce any toxicity. Only when very large doses are (inadvertently) administered intravenously can toxicity occur, which usually manifests as seizure-like activity.
Does spinal anesthesia cause memory loss?
NO, but if you are anxious and you are given a benzodiazepine, then you may not remember much around the time of surgery (as expected from any benzodiazepine drug).
When can I eat after spinal anesthesia?
That depends on what kind of surgery you are having. If the surgery involves your stomach or intestines or other organs near your bowels, then the surgery will produce an ileus READ MORE
That depends on what kind of surgery you are having. If the surgery involves your stomach or intestines or other organs near your bowels, then the surgery will produce an ileus that precludes you from eating for at least 12 hours. If the surgery involves an arm or a leg, then you can eat right away.
What anesthesia is used for stitches?
Local anesthesia
Do they numb you before stitches?
I advise you to ask your nurse or doctor to give you local anesthetics if you so desire. They should accommodate your request.
How long does lidocaine cream take to wear off?
Read the label. Some lidocaine cream formulations may last longer than others. The length of pain relief also depends on your intrinsic severity of injury (you may have an abscess READ MORE
Read the label. Some lidocaine cream formulations may last longer than others. The length of pain relief also depends on your intrinsic severity of injury (you may have an abscess that needs to be drained, or a deep cut that needs to be sutured, etc.) and your intrinsic rate of healing (pain from a skin burn may only last for minutes to hours whereas lidocaine cream also wears off in the same time frame.
What is topical anesthesia used for?
Topical anesthesia may involve application of local anesthetics to mucosal tissues (in the mouth or nasal passages) to numb an area prior to dental or oropharyngeal surgeries or READ MORE
Topical anesthesia may involve application of local anesthetics to mucosal tissues (in the mouth or nasal passages) to numb an area prior to dental or oropharyngeal surgeries or may involve application of a topical eutectic mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine (EMLA cream) to numb the skin of children prior to insertion of an intravenous catheter.
What are the chances of waking up during anesthesia?
The probability of waking up (for a healthy patient) undergoing a routine (non-life-threatening) surgery under general anesthesia is practically zero.
How long does regional anesthesia last?
That depends on what sort of regional anesthesia is administered. Some peripheral nerve blocks may last 8-10 hours or more, spinal anesthesia usually lasts 90 minutes or more, READ MORE
That depends on what sort of regional anesthesia is administered. Some peripheral nerve blocks may last 8-10 hours or more, spinal anesthesia usually lasts 90 minutes or more, and epidural anesthesia can be extended by redosing ad infinitum.
Is rotator cuff surgery done under general anesthesia?
At most hospitals, anesthesiologists give patients an interscalene nerve block as well as general anesthesia for rotator cuff repair surgery.
Can I go under anesthesia after a concussion?
This is a difficult question to answer. It depends on when you had your concussion, how it happened, how your physical and mental health are now, and what kind of surgery you are READ MORE
This is a difficult question to answer. It depends on when you had your concussion, how it happened, how your physical and mental health are now, and what kind of surgery you are going to have. Please discuss these with your anesthesiologist before undergoing any surgery.
How long are you asleep after open heart surgery?
In a simple, straightforward cardiac surgery, the patient may be awakened within a few hours after surgery; in a complicated surgery with need for vasopressor and ventilatory support, READ MORE
In a simple, straightforward cardiac surgery, the patient may be awakened within a few hours after surgery; in a complicated surgery with need for vasopressor and ventilatory support, the patient is usually kept asleep until hemodynamics and respiratory parameters are stabilized (which can take a day or two, usually).
What are the side effects of epidural anesthesia?
Epidural anesthesia is very safe and effective for labor analgesia, cesarean delivery, and a host of other surgical procedures in the abdomen or lower extremities. There is a small, READ MORE
Epidural anesthesia is very safe and effective for labor analgesia, cesarean delivery, and a host of other surgical procedures in the abdomen or lower extremities. There is a small, but finite risk of post-dural puncture headache, but his risk is usually less than 1%. Hypotension may occur if IV fluid administration is not robust; however, close BP monitoring and treatments avoid all serious sequelae.
