Dr. Bernard Wittels M.D., PH.D., Anesthesiologist
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Dr. Bernard Wittels M.D., PH.D.

Anesthesiologist

355 Ridge Avenue Evanston IL, 60202
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About

Dr. Bernard Wittels is an anesthesiologist practicing in Evanston, IL. Dr. Wittels ensures the safety of patients who are about to undergo surgery. Anesthesiologists specialize in general anesthesia, (keeping patients unconscious, hemodynamically stable, and pain-free), sedation, (reducing anxiety and inducing a state of calm sleepiness) , and regional anesthesia, (numbing a region of the body using local anesthetics). As an anesthesiologist, Dr. Wittels also provides acute pain management after an operation using peripheral nerve blocks and patient-controlled intravenous opioids.

Education and Training

Univ of Chicago, Pritzker Sch of Med, Chicago Il 1986

U Of Chgo Div Of Bio Sci Pritzker Sch Of Med 1986

Board Certification

AnesthesiologyAmerican Board of AnesthesiologyABA

Provider Details

MaleEnglish
Dr. Bernard Wittels M.D., PH.D.
Dr. Bernard Wittels M.D., PH.D.'s Expert Contributions
  • 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?  Your cardiologist knows her, your nephrologist does too; even your opthalmologist, internist, obstetrician and...

  • 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 opioids for pain relief, and others want an epidural anesthetic as soon as possible. For women who have never...

  • Is it okay to have high blood pressure after local anesthesia?

    High blood pressure is never "okay". You should have it measured repeatedly and consult a medical specialist if your BP measurements remain high. READ MORE

  • anesthesia along with meth

    Methamphetamine is a drug that can ruin your teeth, cause you to have a heart attack or stroke, or affect your thinking so that you take unsafe risks and behaviors that are a threat to your life. These risks do not dissipate after 7 days, as you have discovered the powerful addictive quality of this drug. You need to seek counseling and treatment with medicines that can help you break the habit and save your life. No anesthesiologist will give you anesthesia if there is methamphetamine in your system because it increases the risk of intraoperative and postoperative death to unacceptable levels. READ MORE

  • Is general anesthesia used for lung resection surgery?

    Yes READ MORE

  • Vomitting

    Vomiting, or emesis, is common after general anesthesia, especially in women who are undergoing outpatient surgery. The best anesthesia can do is to administer multiple antiemetic drugs, place a scopolamine patch behind your ear, and empty your stomach with an OG tube prior to waking you up from surgery. READ MORE

  • Help I Am Scared

    In my experience, those patients who do not wake up after surgery are patients who were already on death's door with critical vital signs, critical illnesses, and multiple medical and surgical problems that posed a severe risk of immediate loss of life. Cirrhosis of the liver and an inguinal hernia do not fall into those categories. As a result, I suspect that you will wake up after the surgery in better condition than when you entered the operating room. Look forward to the excellent care your anesthesiologist and surgeon will provide to make your life better. READ MORE

  • What type of anesthesia is used for tonsil surgery?

    General anesthesia READ MORE

  • Can endoscopy be done under general anesthesia?

    Most endoscopies are done either with light sedation or with monitored anesthesia care. General anesthesia is not required. READ MORE

  • What can't you eat after anesthesia?

    When you wake up after general anesthesia, your brain wakes up first and your bowels wake up last, so your brain may tell you that you are hungry, but your inactive bowels will forcibly reject any food it receives until the bowel have fully recovered function (bowel sounds return, flatus, etc.). READ MORE

  • Failed epidural and spinal block for c-section?

    There are many possible causes for a failed epidural block, the most common of which is that the "epidural catheter" is not in the epidural space. A failed spinal block can be due to the movement of the patient or the spinal needle during injection such that not all of the intended spinal local anesthetic is injected and an insufficient block results. Another potential cause of these failures is that the local anesthetic that is used is either beyond its expiration date or has come from a "bad" lot (batch) of drugs in which all of the local anesthetic has gone bad. When a failure occurs, the best option is to get the most experienced, senior anesthesiologist to do your epidural or spinal or combined spinal-epidural anesthetic. READ MORE

  • Can a skin graft be done under local anesthetic?

    Yes, it is safe; however, it cannot be done under local anesthesia. Depending on the site and size of the skin graft, it may be possible to do under a regional anesthetic (nerve block), but larger skin grafts are usually done with general anesthesia. READ MORE

  • How long do headaches last after general anesthesia?

    Headache comes in many forms (cluster, migraine, positional, etc.) and has many causes, but they are completely unrelated to general anesthesia. Unfortunately, many patients who receive anesthesia for surgery tend to blame anesthesia for a host of symptoms when in fact their symptoms reflect an undiagnosed problem that is totally unrelated to anesthesia. READ MORE

  • Can shoulder surgery be done with local anesthesia?

    Some types of shoulder surgery can be done with an interscalene nerve block and either IV sedation or general anesthesia. READ MORE

  • Can you have rotator cuff surgery without general anesthesia?

    Rotator cuff surgery can be done under an interscalene nerve block with IV sedation. READ MORE

  • Can you be sedated for a CT scan?

    yes READ MORE

  • Can knee surgery be done under local anesthesia?

    "Knee replacement" or total knee arthroplasty cannot be tolerated by any patient without supplemental general anesthesia, although most often it is accompanied by nerve blocks that significantly attenuate the postoperative pain. You would never be able to tolerate that sort of surgery without general anesthesia. READ MORE

  • How long does it take to detox from anesthesia?

    If your goal is to rid your body of all anesthetic substances administered, then the only thing you can do is wait about 7-10 days and none will remain. READ MORE

  • Is anesthesia given during normal delivery?

    Yes, all pregnant women in labor deserve the best pain relief for their labor and delivery, which usually means and epidural anesthetic or a combined spinal-epidural anesthetic. READ MORE

  • Can local anesthesia cause headaches?

    There are many types of headaches and many potential causes of headaches, but local anesthetics have NEVER been shown to cause them. All numbing and other effects of local anesthetics disappear completely after 24 hours. Go see a headache specialist. READ MORE

  • Can anesthesia cause constipation?

    General anesthesia not only puts your brain to sleep, but also your bowels, and your brain recovers faster than your bowels, which is why nausea is common in the first few hours after general anesthesia. Constipation has many causes, the most common of which is a diet poor in fiber and roughage. If this is your diet before surgery, your constipation might be worse after general anesthesia. Also, opioids taken for pain relief have a strong constipating effect and should be discontinued as soon as possible. Finally, antibiotics that are routinely given to prevent infection can change your gut flora to cause irregular bowel habits. There are gut flora supplements you can take to replenish your normal gut flora and return to normal bowel habits. READ MORE

  • Are you able to fly with anesthesia in your system?

    After receiving anesthesia for a surgery, you are given instructions by your surgeon on any limitations to physical activity and any complications of surgery to anticipate, and your anesthesiologist should also caution you not to make any significant financial or marital decisions in the 24 hours following surgery; of course, you should not be allowed to fly any plane in that time window. READ MORE

Areas of expertise and specialization

Obstetric anesthesiaThoracic and Vascular anesthesia

Faculty Titles & Positions

  • Associate Professor University of Chicago 1990 - 2005
  • Associate Professor Rush University Medical Center 2006 - 2008
  • Associate Professor University of Missouri 2009 - 2010

Professional Memberships

  • American Society of Anesthesiologists  
  • International Anesthesia Research Society  
  • Society of Obstetric Anesthesiology and Perinatology  
  • Illinois Society of Anesthesiology  
  • Faculty of 1000 Member, Section on Obstetric Anesthesia  

Areas of research

Obstetric anesthesia and perinatology

Dr. Bernard Wittels M.D., PH.D.'s Practice location

Presence Saint Francis Hospital

355 Ridge Avenue -
Evanston, IL 60202
Get Direction
New patients: 847-316-2105, 847-316-6370

Practice At 1653 W Congress Pkwy 735 Jelke Anesthesia Dept

1653 W Congress Pkwy 735 Jelke Anesthesia Dept -
Chicago, IL 60612
Get Direction
New patients: 773-702-3027

Practice At 1 Hospital Dr

1 Hospital Dr -
Columbia, MO 65201
Get Direction
New patients: 573-882-6061
Fax: 573-884-4122
http://www.muhealth.org

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