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 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.
Can you have rotator cuff surgery without general anesthesia?
Rotator cuff surgery can be done under an interscalene nerve block with IV sedation.
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 READ MORE
"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.
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.
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
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.
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 READ MORE
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.
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 READ MORE
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.
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 READ MORE
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.
How do you detox after general anesthesia?
To have all traces of drugs and agents given to you during general anesthesia, the tincture of time is the only answer and the speed with which those effects dissipate depends READ MORE
To have all traces of drugs and agents given to you during general anesthesia, the tincture of time is the only answer and the speed with which those effects dissipate depends directly on their specific drug elimination half-lives. That usually means in a day or two, perhaps up to a week if you need to perform higher cognitive skills (solving differential equations, piloting a jet aircraft, or playing a Rachmaninoff piano concerto).
Is it normal to lose hair after general anesthesia?
Hair loss (alopecia) has many potential causes, but general anesthesia itself is not one of them.
How long does it take to feel normal after anesthesia?
Recovery after surgery with general anesthesia depends not only on the anesthetic medications you received, but also on the type of surgery you had. More invasive and extensive READ MORE
Recovery after surgery with general anesthesia depends not only on the anesthetic medications you received, but also on the type of surgery you had. More invasive and extensive surgeries require more postoperative pain medications that may complicate and prolong recovery. Nearly all anesthetic drugs dissipate completely after 24 hours.
What is considered regional anesthesia?
Regional anesthesia is a broad term that encompasses all forms of nerve blocks and may include interscalene, supraclavicular, infraclavicular, axillary, median, ulnar and radial READ MORE
Regional anesthesia is a broad term that encompasses all forms of nerve blocks and may include interscalene, supraclavicular, infraclavicular, axillary, median, ulnar and radial nerve blocks, as well as fascia iliaca, femoral nerve, obturator canal block. sciatic nerve block, popliteal nerve block, ankle block, spinal anesthesia, epidural anesthesia and combinations of the above.
Can spinal anesthesia give you a headache?
Yes, spinal anesthesia can lead to a very severe, positional headache that dissipates completely when supine, then recurs immediately and severely upon standing and walking.
Why does it take so long to wake up from dental anesthesia?
I cannot give you a specific, detailed answer to your question without knowing what your dentist gave you; however, one drug that dentists use (ketamine) can have lasting effects; READ MORE
I cannot give you a specific, detailed answer to your question without knowing what your dentist gave you; however, one drug that dentists use (ketamine) can have lasting effects; ketamine acts as a strong analgesic and a dissociative anesthetic, but may have residual effects that last more than twelve hours afterward.
How long does it take for spinal anesthesia to wear off?
The most common local anesthetic used for spinal anesthesia (bupivacaine) usually provides 90 minutes of surgical anesthesia, then begins to dissipate slowly from head to toe over READ MORE
The most common local anesthetic used for spinal anesthesia (bupivacaine) usually provides 90 minutes of surgical anesthesia, then begins to dissipate slowly from head to toe over the course of the next two to three hours.
What drugs are used for regional anesthesia?
All drugs used for regional anesthesia are local anesthetics, the most common of which are lidocaine, bupivacaine, and ropivacaine. When given as a spinal or epidural anesthetic, READ MORE
All drugs used for regional anesthesia are local anesthetics, the most common of which are lidocaine, bupivacaine, and ropivacaine. When given as a spinal or epidural anesthetic, these drugs must be preservative-free.
Can anesthesia cause emotional problems?
Some drugs used in anesthesia can cause transient amnesia and unmasking of underlying emotional stress or turmoil that one normally does not express outwardly.
