Dr. Bernard Wittels M.D., PH.D.
Anesthesiologist
355 Ridge Avenue Evanston IL, 60202About
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
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...
Kidney stones - hydronephrosis - anesthesia
The answer to this question depends on several factors, including what methods the surgeon will use to remove or dissolve the stones, whether the surgeon will agree to a spinal anesthetic with sedation to do the procedure, and whether the anesthesiologist can administer a spinal anesthetic that will last for the entire procedure whose duration may be unpredictable. I suggest a conference between the three of you to discuss whether your desired anesthetic can or cannot be administered and the rationale involved (which may involve individual choices by the surgeon and anesthesiologist, as well as yourself.) READ MORE
Can you have a colonoscopy without anesthesia?
Yes READ MORE
How long will sedation last after a colonoscopy?
Only a few minutes after sedation is turned off, patients awaken and become fully alert after 30 minutes or so. READ MORE
What sedation is used for a lung biopsy?
Most lung tissue biopsies are done endobronchially under general endotracheal anesthesia. Needle biopsies of lung tissue are done under fluoroscopic guidance and may be performed with IV sedation and local anesthesia, or deep sedation administered by an anesthesiologist. READ MORE
What kind of anesthesia is done for kidney stone removal?
General anesthesia READ MORE
What type of sedation is used for lung biopsy?
You may be given a small sedative such as midazolam or fentanyl in small doses to help you tolerate the procedure, which may also involve injection of a local anesthetic. Dr. Wittels READ MORE
Is colonoscopy done under local anesthesia?
You can receive either no medications or small doses of analgesics or to receive monitored anesthesia care that will allow you to have some sleepy medicines during the procedure. READ MORE
Will anesthesia affect the liver?
No READ MORE
General anesthesia
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common medical problem among patients for whom anesthesiologists provide care. Death among patients with OSA rarely occurs during intraoperative care, but that risk increases in the postoperative period if there is excessive administration of opioid medications without intensive and continuous respiratory monitoring. Appropriate pain therapies focused on regional anesthesia and intensive monitoring postoperatively can mitigate these risks. READ MORE
What kind of sedation is used for thyroid surgery?
Thyroid surgery requires general anesthesia. READ MORE
Does anesthesia paralyze your lungs?
The induction agents used in general anesthesia suppress voluntary,respirations (an action on the brain); inhalational agents that maintain general anesthesia maintain unconsciousness (through an action on the brain), but they also inhibit the normal clearance of secretions from the inner linings of the lung, bronchi, and alveoli by the cilia that line the tracheobronchial tree. This has an effect on smokers and people with asthma that can lead to the accumulation of secretions in the airway upon awakening from general anesthesia that exacerbates postoperative coughing. READ MORE
Is local anesthesia safe for diabetic patients?
Yes, local anesthetics are safe for diabetic patients. READ MORE
Do they put you to sleep to check your colon?
Colonoscopy can be done with light sedation (if you are a stoic person), or deep sedation (monitored anesthesia care) where you are given drugs that allow you to take a nap and not be aware of the procedure. READ MORE
What are some side effects of local anesthetics?
The initial injection of local anesthetics may be somewhat painful, depending on the speed of injection (faster injection is more painful) and specific local anesthetic used (bupivacaine is more painful than lidocaine). Local anesthetics do not work instantly, so it is important to wait after local anesthetic injection before doing any skin incision. Excessive amounts of local anesthetic, if given intravenously, can produce ringing in the ears, perioral numbness, or even seizures. Finally, all local anesthetic-induced numbness eventually wears off, so it is important to have pain medication prescribed to take as the numbing recedes. READ MORE
How do we overcome fatigue from general anesthesia?
Awakening from general anesthesia occurs in a matter of minutes. Although there are many causes of fatigue, including sleep deprivation, studies have shown that general anesthesia does not cause fatigue and does not compensate for lost hours of sleep. READ MORE
How do they numb the prostate for biopsy?
There is no numbing medicine for prostate biopsy; you will probably receive deep sedation for this procedure, so nothing will bother you. READ MORE
Is general anesthesia safe for the lungs?
If you don't smoke, then your lungs do well with general anesthesia; however, if you do smoke or if you have asthma, then you will find that you may accumulate secretions in your lungs during general anesthesia and these secretions will promote more vigorous and prolonged coughing episodes postoperatively. READ MORE
How long is anesthesia for colon surgery?
General anesthesia should always provide unconsciousness for the entire length of any surgery, including colon surgery. If you are concerned about the length of surgery, you should ask your surgeon about what you to expect. READ MORE
What type of anesthesia is done for lung biopsy?
Peripheral lung biopsies can be done with local anesthesia supplemented with monitored anesthesia care with deep sedation, while peribronchial lung biopsies are usually done with general endotracheal anesthesia. READ MORE
What kind of anesthesia is used for removing fluid from the lungs?
If you have a pleural effusion that needs to be drained, a local anesthetic to the skin in your chest nearest to the effusion will be administered before a needle is inserted to drain the fluid. READ MORE
Areas of expertise and specialization
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 perinatologyDr. Bernard Wittels M.D., PH.D.'s Practice location
Dr. Bernard Wittels M.D., PH.D.'s reviews
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