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About Ronald Levy, M.D.
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. I am a board certified anesthesiologist who can answer all questions related to any type of Anesthesia with the exception of Pain Management.

   

You are here:  Experts > Health/Fitness > Medical Specialists > Anesthesiology

Questions Answered By Expert  Ronald Levy, M.D. 
In Category  Anesthesiology

SubjectDate Asked

Versed/amnesia9/15/2008
  Q: Could you please point me to some scientific articles, data texts, studies etc. about Versed and its ...
  A: I can't point you to articles refuting the claim because it does cause these effects. One of the ...
NPO guidelines and gum9/12/2008
  Q: Dr. Levy, Do you know what the ASA NPO guidelines are for chewing gum? I find some resources that ...
  A: I take a literal approach and would postpose the case. I am not sure if gum was addressed in the ASA ...
anesthesia sensitivity9/11/2008
  Q: I am scheduled to have lumbar disc surgery on Monday 9/15, and when I had a tubal ligation in 1994 ...
  A: Not having seen your chart it would be hard for me to answer. If you got succinylcholine only and ...
copy of hospital records9/10/2008
  Q: If I ask for a copy of my hospital record, will it have the kind of anesthesia that was given to me ...
  A: Yes it will. You can ask for specific parts of your record instead of the whole thing. Charts tend ...
pain in a c-section9/9/2008
  Q: Levy, I am expecting our second child in January of this year. Our first was born in January of ...
  A: It is not uncommon (especially for people with disk problems) to have a patchy block with the ...
lower back pain since spinal9/7/2008
  Q: Within the past 4 years I have had two c-sections and both times a spinal was used. After having my ...
  A: The spinal headache and the back pain are not related and I don't think the spinals are related to ...
Seniors and anesthesia9/6/2008
  Q: My 78 year old mother was caregiver for my father and had a nervous breakdown and then fracture to ...
  A: I doubt it is the anesthesia that is causing these reactions. Has she been seen by her PCP or a ...
confusingly low blood pressure under anesthesia9/5/2008
  Q: My grandfather is currently in the ICU at a local hospital. A few days ago he broke his femur and ...
  A: First of all, a lot of what you describe as low BP and can't wake up, have little to do with each ...
sedation9/5/2008
  Q: I had a colonoscopy 7 years ago. I was given versed, demerol and droperidol. When my husband drove ...
  A: I'm not quite sure what the nurse recognized but I think your problem was related to the Droperidol. ...
Anesthesia during pregnancy9/4/2008
  Q: I just found out that i conceived my baby w week before I had a hernia repair surgery during which i ...
  A: They should have done a pregnancy test on you prior to surgery. If you have anesthesia during the ...
Epidural9/3/2008
  Q: My daughter is now 1 years old and I had to be induced with pitocin. I was also given Tetracycline ...
  A: It sounds like it might be. When you had the parathesias (shooting pain down the leg), did the pain ...
lower back pain9/1/2008
  Q: i had a c-section 9 months ago and i am experiencing a great deal of lower back pain more so in the ...
  A: Unlikely if the spinal placement was uneventful. It might be because of the baby's head in the ...
effect of anaesthetic on patient on high dose oxy9/1/2008
  Q: I recently underwent dental surgery under 'twilight' anaesthesia. I was supposed to remain sedated ...
  A: Certainly you have a higher tolerance to pain meds so it could affect the anesthetic. The local ...
feelings of terror8/31/2008
  Q: I had a endoscopy and apparently became violent midway through the procedure because I was coming ...
  A: Promethazine (Phernergan) is usually given for nausea and vomitting although it can be used as a ...
anesthesiology8/31/2008
  Q: Levy, I understand I need 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school and 4 years of residency to ...
  A: If you are independent, you can establish your residency during college by living year round in the ...
Question8/31/2008
  Q: Could you please explain the difference between sedation and general anesthesia? How do these ...
  A: Conscious sedation means that you are sleepy but if aroused, you will respond. General anesthesia ...
Conscious-deep-anaesthesia8/30/2008
  Q: Greetings Peace be upon you, What level separates conscious sedation, deep sedation and general ...
  A: Conscious sedation means that you are sleepy but if aroused, you will respond. Deep sedation and ...
feelings of terror8/30/2008
  Q: I had a endoscopy and apparently became violent midway through the procedure because I was coming ...
  A: Not knowing what you received makes it hard to say what happened but usually for endoscopy, the ...
heart attack and anethesia8/27/2008
  Q: My mother had a stent placed to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm. She had an intraoperative heart ...
  A: Sounds to me like passing blame! Obviously without looking at the chart I can't tell exactly what ...
Junior College Courses8/27/2008
  Q: I am currently a senior in high school and I have been thinking about becoming an anesthesiologist. ...
  A: Calculus is required for medical school. You can major in anything in college (there is no medicine ...
epidural8/27/2008
  Q: I had an epidural a year ago when I had my baby( natural delivery) I had it at 5 am and I gave birth ...
  A: It certainly could be due to the epidural but it also could be due to the delivery. When the baby's ...
what college classes do i take?8/25/2008
  Q: I am interested in becoming an anesthesiologist. I am currently at a community college getting my ...
  A: You do not need to be a nurse to be an anesthesiologist, you need to be a physician. You need to ...
Advice8/22/2008
  Q: I am a few months away from graduating with an RN . I seriously want to further my education by ...
  A: First make sure that you have all the pre-reqs from your nursing school to get into medical school. ...
Preparing to work in the medical field.8/21/2008
  Q: Well right now I am in my Senior year in Clements High, Sugarland Tx and I am not quite sure how I ...
  A: No it is not. You need to complete 4 yrs of college including all the pre-requisite courses ...
Preparing to work in the medical field.8/21/2008
  Q: Well right now I am in my Senior year in Clements High, Sugarland Tx and I am not quite sure how I ...
  A: It is hard to understand your question but if you are asking me which college to go to before going ...
General anesthesia and PTSD8/21/2008
  Q: There's a lot of literature out there about PTSD occurring after awareness during general ...
  A: I think the key here is that your previous encounter with anesthesia was FORCED. In this case, it is ...
Anesthesiology practicing8/20/2008
  Q: Levy. I am thinking of becoming an Anesthesiologist when I am older. But the thing is, I would also ...
  A: Any field of medicine will require some sacrifice of time. Anesthesia is probably in the middle ...
Anesthesia Reaction8/20/2008
  Q: 2 months ago I had an colonoscopy and endoscopy performed. The doctor informed my husband that I ...
  A: Unlikely as none of the meds we usually give for endoscopy cause ringing in the ears (tinnitus). ...
Career8/20/2008
  Q: I am planning to pursue a career as a trauma surgeon. My question for you is if it would be ...
  A: There are no majors and minors in medicine as it is not like a college. You first finish college, ...
Testing for allergy to anesthesia8/19/2008
  Q: Dr. Levy, I know that folks can be tested for allergies to certain things (eggs, milk, wheat, molds, ...
  A: My feeling is that your heart rate went up because they gave you a local anesthetic that had ...
Anesthesiology8/19/2008
  Q: Would the University of Michigan be a good college for Anesthesiology? Because that is where I plan ...
  A: You don't go to a college for anesthesia. You finish college, then go to medical school (4 yrs) and ...
potassium, magnesium8/18/2008
  Q: Levy, I read your answer to someone on taking potassium. I was having regular intervals of strange ...
  A: Don't take potassium without being under the supervision of a physician (same for magnesium). Both ...
Morphine drip question8/18/2008
  Q: My grandmother was recently diagnosed with brain cancer (within the last month) and has since then ...
  A: There is no way to tell. They are not actively trying to shorten her time but rather making sure ...
Clueless8/15/2008
  Q: I want to go to school for anesthesiology but I'm not sure what all I need to go to school for. I ...
  A: If you want to be an MD anesthesiologist, you do not need an RN. You need to finish a 4 yr college, ...
anesthesia and brain fog8/15/2008
  Q: IN Jan. 2008 I had general anesthesia 6 times due to a nearly fatal ski accident(skier vs. tree) It ...
  A: Anesthesia can cause some amnesia related to the time of the anesthetic and the period immediately ...
Testing for allergy to anesthesia8/15/2008
  Q: Dr. Levy, I know that folks can be tested for allergies to certain things (eggs, milk, wheat, molds, ...
  A: There is no such thing as an anesthesia allergy. You can be allergic to some medications we give but ...
anesthesia and brain fog8/14/2008
  Q: IN Jan. 2008 I had general anesthesia 6 times due to a nearly fatal ski accident(skier vs. tree) It ...
  A: This is not due to anesthesia but more likely related to the original injury. My first guess ...
Courses that need to be taken while in High School8/13/2008
  Q: My son who has had a 3.9 average in his freshman year of high school, and is now interested in the ...
  A: He should continue to take science and math courses and if he has the opportunity to take AP ...
Curious8/13/2008
  Q: My name is Graham and I was wondering what in the average income that most Anesthesiologist start ...
  A: Anesthesiologist can make anywhere from $100,000 to over $400,000 depending on the type of practice ...
anesthia question8/12/2008
  Q: I had my gallbladder removed 8-09-08 under general anesthia (do not know type). I was discharged ...
  A: I really hate people who say you had an allergic reaction to anesthesia when they don't know what ...
Anesthesia consent8/9/2008
  Q: I have a bad history of colon cancer in y family as well as polyps, so I get frequent colonoscopies. ...
  A: You are certainly free to do what you want but Propofol is different from Versed and it might be ...
Anesthesia when you have severe allergies8/7/2008
  Q: I have a hysterectomy scheduled in mid september. I also have allergies and receive weekly allergy ...
  A: It is not a problem from the anesthetic point of view. As long as your cough/sinus symptoms are due ...
Carreer in Anesthesiology8/6/2008
  Q: You seem to have been doing this for a while. I have searched and researched all I could. One thing ...
  A: Again, there really is no place to look this information up. You might try contacting a local ...
Carreer in Anesthesiology8/6/2008
  Q: You seem to have been doing this for a while. I have searched and researched all I could. One thing ...
  A: You can't find the information because it is different for every state and every type of practice. ...
Other work for anesthesia residents8/3/2008
  Q: I am an anesthesia resident in my CA-2 year and due to personal circumstances I am interested in ...
  A: No because you can't do it. A CRNA is a state licensed nursing position. You are not certified and ...
Life Change8/3/2008
  Q: I'm a 31 year old college freshman, going to a local community college in Minneapolis. I'm at a ...
  A: Med school only cares that you take the required courses. The chemistry and physics should be taken ...
headaches/bad dreams8/2/2008
  Q: I am 55 years old and ten weeks ago I had a hysterectomy and BSO. Since the operation I have had ...
  A: Of course no one can say that they are not, but I strongly doubt that they have anything to dowith ...
Life Change8/1/2008
  Q: I'm a 31 year old college freshman, going to a local community college in Minneapolis. I'm at a ...
  A: First of all, if you are interested in pursuing medicine, you will need to go to a formal 4 year ...
About colleges..8/1/2008
  Q: I really find an anesthesiologist's work intriguing; however, it's not likely that I'll go to a top ...
  A: If you do well at any 4 yr college and do well at your MCATs and have good extracurricular ...
anesthesiology7/30/2008
  Q: i also want to be an anesthesiologist. but i am a curious, what is a type of a anesthesiologist that ...
  A: While most people attend college to study a major that will help their career, others use the ...
Becoming an Anesthesiologist..7/30/2008
  Q: I was wondering..what courses would you recommend taking in college to become an Anesthesiologist? ...
  A: Before you can think about being an anesthesiologist you need to get into medical school. So there ...
Potassium Limits7/29/2008
  Q: Levy, I have been studying a bit, on the internet that is, concerning sodium/potassium imbalance as ...
  A: You should NOT increase your Potassium level except under direct supervision of a physician. ...
anesthesiology7/29/2008
  Q: i also want to be an anesthesiologist. but i am a curious, what is a type of a anesthesiologist that ...
  A: That's alot of questions. Here are some brief answers: what is a type of a anesthesiologist that ...
Rewarding/Fun?7/26/2008
  Q: I am an aspiring young girl looking for a job in the medical field. As I was told, cosmetic surgeons ...
  A: You first have to evaluate your goals. Are you looking for a profession that makes lots of money or ...
crna further education7/24/2008
  Q: I'm currently an RN student about to graduate this upcoming year. Withing a year or after graduation ...
  A: I can't tell you which path to follow and unfortunately I don't know much about the training ...
Learning more about anesthesiology7/24/2008
  Q: I am trying to learn more about anesthesiology because I am interested in becoming an ...
  A: To become an anesthesiologist you need 4 yrs of college, 4 yrs of medical school and 4 yrs of ...
Vomiting 10 days after anesthesia7/24/2008
  Q: I had a Colonoscopy/Endoscopy on 7/14, and as of 7/23 still have vomiting and severe nausea. The ...
  A: Not really. 10 days out, any metabolite should already be excreted. Sometimes we don't know what ...
great advice7/24/2008
  Q: Do you ever get tired of getting thanked by grateful people? I'm the one who has been asking a bunch ...
  A: Sometimes people have to touch a hot stove before they realize to check if it's on first. I'm glad ...
Vasectomy & sinus infection7/23/2008
  Q: My boyfriend is scheduled to have a vascectomy on Friday and he has been feeling under the weather ...
  A: It is not a problem from an anesthetic point of view as we would likely be doing a spinal ...
colonoscopy7/23/2008
  Q: I'm 53 and have an awful family history of colon cancer. I wznt to habe this exam without drugs or ...
  A: First of all I'd comment on the "dubious" term. Conscious sedation works, and it works well. Some ...
I'm still tired 10 days after surgery. Anesthesia side effect??7/20/2008
  Q: Yes, I was told that the effects of Anesthesia can stay in your body for weeks. But good grief! I'm ...
  A: My feeling is that this is not anesthesia. Sure you can have some anesthetic effects for 34 (maybe ...
becoming an anesthesiologist7/19/2008
  Q: i understand the whole process of becoming an anesthesiologist 4 years of undergraduate, 4 years of ...
  A: my first question is do you think the university of south florida is a good place to start my 12 ...
Numbness of Nose and Cheek7/19/2008
  Q: When my dentist injects an anesthetic so that he can work on my upper teeth, why does part of my ...
  A: The anesthetic he is injecting is numbing part of the facial nerve. The local spread of the local ...
Spinal headaches7/18/2008
  Q: My wife, 37 yrs old, had a spinal anesthesia on 7-15-08, for surgery. Approx. 6 hours after surgery ...
  A: Assuming this is a spinal headache (I say that because it usually is not bad when lying supine), the ...
Anesthesiology in high risk patient7/17/2008
  Q: How do you handle a patient that is known to have bouts of autonomic dysfunction, cause not yet dx. ...
  A: Regional might be possible but that would be up to the surgeons and the anesthesiologist. Clearly, ...
anesthesiology7/17/2008
  Q: I must commend you on an excellent website and for providing so many answers to what must be, at ...
  A: I would definitely NOT amend it on the day of surgery unless I don't have any other choice. I don't ...
Med School Admission7/15/2008
  Q: Quick question. Do taking requirement courses negatively affect one's chances of getting into ...
  A: It depends. If the courses are necessary to allow you to take the prerequisite courses in college ...
anesthesia residency slots7/14/2008
  Q: Approximately how many anesthesia residency slots are there per year? Also are there programs that ...
  A: I don't know the exact number but you can get that information from the ACGME (www.ACGME.org). ...
Numbness after a 12 hour surgery on back.7/14/2008
  Q: I am a 46 year old school teacher in south florida and I am recovering from major back surgery. My ...
  A: I am a little confused...The numbness you have is on your face, you have drooling AND your toes are ...
2nd C-Section7/14/2008
  Q: Levy, I'm pregnant with my third child (4 1/2 months along), my first child was born vaginal w/ ...
  A: Why would general anesthesia have complications with your recovery? My feeling is the ...
anesthesia complication7/13/2008
  Q: On average, how many urgent situations an anesthetist faces per year? can you give some exapmles? ...
  A: This is an impossible question to answer. It depends on the type of practice you have, the kinds of ...
anesthesia and heart problems7/11/2008
  Q: Mr.Ronald Levy, I was wondering if there is any chance that anesthesia could make an impact on ...
  A: It is extremely unlikely that the anesthesia had anything to do with your diagnosis. Actually, ...
Bone Pain7/11/2008
  Q: Have you run across cases where people feel no bone pain? I've had three rt knee operations ...
  A: There are no pain fibers in the bone. Most pain from fractures is from the muscles surrounding the ...
14 yr old son & anesthesia7/11/2008
  Q: My 14 year old son was going in for his first surgery ever. He was scheduled to have a cecostomy. He ...
  A: Hypotension means low blood pressure. I can't tell you what was going on with the surgery at taht ...
14 yr old son & anesthesia7/10/2008
  Q: My 14 year old son was going in for his first surgery ever. He was scheduled to have a cecostomy. He ...
  A: Now it makes sense. He had what is called "Red Man Syndrome" Vancomycin is a particular antibiotic ...
anesthesia7/10/2008
  Q: Maybe I'm making more of this than necessary, but I need to ask an anesthesia doc this ...
  A: First of all, you can't do a neck fusion awake. Whoever told you that doesn't understand what you ...
verced adverse reaction w/colonoscopy7/10/2008
  Q: when i was sedated during my colonoscopy,i was given verced for the 1st time.The nurse said i ...
  A: First of all, that was 10 yrs ago. Now we give it along with other drugs so it is likely better now. ...
BPH anestheisa for7/9/2008
  Q: You must be getting tird of my questions, surgery for BPH laser PVP scheduled for this wed adn you ...
  A: I don't understand what you mean by "cant't do general anesthesia". Why not? how about Spinal? You ...
anesthesia7/9/2008
  Q: I need to have a nerve "transposed" in both of my elbows and the procedure is going to last about 40 ...
  A: What they are talking about is a Bier block, but I would also be hesitant to do it for 2 reasons. ...
14 yr old son & anesthesia7/9/2008
  Q: My 14 year old son was going in for his first surgery ever. He was scheduled to have a cecostomy. He ...
  A: First of all they probably told you they put an IV in his neck (a central line) although they could ...
colonoscopy anesthesia7/8/2008
  Q: I hate to ask such a dumb question,it here it goes......At the insistance of my doctor, I'm ...
  A: I don't agree that no anesthesia is necessarily the safest. If something is uncomfortable, it may ...
anesthesia for day surgery7/7/2008
  Q: I'm 50 and work as an airline pilot; unfortunately I need to have ulnar nerve/carpal tunnel surgery ...
  A: You can certainly do it with a Bier block (it can even be done with local anesthesia. There is ...
risk for 4 year old daughter7/7/2008
  Q: My 4 year old daughter needs hernia surgery for 2 separate abdominal hernias. She is very allergic ...
  A: There is no correlation between allergies to bugs and medications. If your daughter were also ...
Nurse anesthetist and Pharmacy7/6/2008
  Q: i am 18yrs old and at the begining of my life. i start college in two months and i don't want to ...
  A: I don't know what you mean by "...job while waiting for entrance to medical school". You enter ...
painful procedure7/5/2008
  Q: Levy, This is a follow up to the question I asked about my aunt who had the painful sentinel node ...
  A: Now I am a little confused. As I recall the original letter, it described intense pain with the ...
anesthesia options for BPH surgery7/4/2008
  Q: For years I have had BPH; the drugs no longer help and it's now time for surgery. I'm 54 and in ...
  A: I would not tie the hands of the anesthesiologists by saying TIVA only. This severely limits what ...
state license7/4/2008
  Q: If I finish a CRNA program, am I now licensed in that state only to start work as a CRNA? Also, what ...
  A: I am not sure about CRNAs but each state has its own licensing rules. So if you train in a state and ...
anesthesia options for BPH surgery7/3/2008
  Q: For years I have had BPH; the drugs no longer help and it's now time for surgery. I'm 54 and in ...
  A: While it is possible to do the entire anesthetic with injected agent (called a TIVA or Total ...
anesthesia options for BPH surgery7/3/2008
  Q: For years I have had BPH; the drugs no longer help and it's now time for surgery. I'm 54 and in ...
  A: There is no way to do this procedure without anesthesia. If spinal is not an option, then general is ...
general anesthesia sideaffects7/3/2008
  Q: I had arthroscopic surgery on my left shoulder for a torn roatator cuff on June 23. I had general ...
  A: My feeling is that you are not reacting to the anesthetic but rather this is just normal recovery ...
dental treatment w/patient with isolated hbp7/1/2008
  Q: my grandmother had open heart surgery 3mos ago. She fracture an anterior central superior tooth ...
  A: There is no problem with the local anesthetic (although if they use epinephrine in the local, that ...
My future6/30/2008
  Q: I'm 19 yrs old I have been in college for 1 year now an I am attending a Community College, I want ...
  A: You apply to medical school during your senior year of college. Most people take the MCAT during the ...
epidural pain6/18/2008
  Q: I got an epidural for a myomectomy a week ago. It was really painful when he was placing it. I ...
  A: It is VERY unusual not to use local because the needle is very large and very painful. It might have ...
Epidurals6/18/2008
  Q: What is the maximum amount of attempts to place an epidural catheter that would be considered safe ...
  A: I avoid pain management questions because I am not a specialist in this area but I highly recommend ...
Epidurals6/18/2008
  Q: What is the maximum amount of attempts to place an epidural catheter that would be considered safe ...
  A: I am sorry for the bad experience you had and it certainly seems like this anesthesiologist did not ...
Epidurals6/18/2008
  Q: What is the maximum amount of attempts to place an epidural catheter that would be considered safe ...
  A: There is no maximum although most anesthesiologists would give up after 5 or 6 tries. I find it hard ...
blood patch6/18/2008
  Q: I had a myelogram that resulted in a severe spinal headache with dizziness and nausea. It has now ...
  A: While repeat patches have a lower success rate, it is still better than not having it and the risks ...
Bloodwork prior to surgery...6/17/2008
  Q: Levy: In a few weeks I'm having a routine vasectomy done. Even though my general practitioner ran ...
  A: If you are otherwise healthy there really is no reason to take lab work. That being said , it is ...
complications from anesthesia6/17/2008
  Q: My son just had general anesthesia and some soft of muscle relaxer. He has multiple allergies. The ...
  A: I don't think it is an allergy to anesthesia but without evaluating him, seeing the chart and seeing ...
General Enquiry6/17/2008
  Q: I am a BSN holder from a university in Nigeria. Now i was told that to come to America to further my ...
  A: I think you are completely confused about the requirements and also you are talking about 2 ...
side effects of anesthesia6/17/2008
  Q: I've had two surgeries and both times I have had bad experiences. While asleep, I dream of being ...
  A: I cannot explain your dreams but I don't think they are linked to the anesthesia directly. If you ...
becoming an anesthesiologist6/16/2008
  Q: levy, my name is keyaira and im a rising ninth grade student. i make straight a's in school and i ...
  A: That's a lot of questions. Here are the short answers: 1) what is the total amount of years you ...
Surgery in 3 days and took phentermine yestrday6/16/2008
  Q: I am scheduled to have UPPP surgery on Thursday 6/19 and I did not take Phentermine today but I did ...
  A: There is some increased risk (just from the OSA) and again I recommend telling your anesthesiologist ...
Surgery in 3 days and took phentermine yestrday6/16/2008
  Q: I am scheduled to have UPPP surgery on Thursday 6/19 and I did not take Phentermine today but I did ...
  A: If you only took it the one time, then there is no problem. If you are taking it on a regular basis, ...
LIDOCAINE6/16/2008
  Q: Mr. Levy I am very concern about the following and need your expert advice. Every time I am injected ...
  A: I wouldn't necessarily answer no. I would tell them that, while you don't think you are allergic to ...
LIDOCAINE6/14/2008
  Q: Mr. Levy I am very concern about the following and need your expert advice. Every time I am injected ...
  A: It sounds strange and I can't say for sure what is causing it. You say it might be lidocaine but ...
A Career in Anesthesiology6/14/2008
  Q: I have heard that anesthesiology is one of the highest paying careers today. I would like a high ...
  A: If your interest is just making money, then medicine is not for you. There are many other ...
complications from anesthesia6/12/2008
  Q: My son just had general anesthesia and some soft of muscle relaxer. He has multiple allergies. The ...
  A: No idea but I don't think it is related to the miscle relaxants or he wouldn't be able to breathe or ...
pac after pre-op6/12/2008
  Q: my heart rate increased to 123 after an maxillary block and iv sedation. how common is this? i want ...
  A: It is not uncommon and there is no need to tell the next dentist anything. What most likely happened ...
Anesthesiology6/12/2008
  Q: my names Tyler I just turned 18. I have been studying on what i want to do with my life. I have ...
  A: To be an anesthesiologist you need 4 yrs of college, 4 yrs of medical school and 4 yrs of anesthesia ...
Hip Replacement6/11/2008
  Q: Dr. Levy, My father-in-law, 84, has had a heart attack about 9 years ago. His heart is doing fine ...
  A: 50% damage to the kidneys is no reason not to have anesthesia (we do anesthesia in patients with ...
colonoscopy sedation6/11/2008
  Q: I have 2 first-degree relatives who have died form colon cancer; I'm, 51 and have some of the ...
  A: If you and the doctor agreed to no sedation, then the CRNA should not have even been in the room. ...
Post anesthesia reaction6/11/2008
  Q: My 82 year old husband had a TKA last November using a general anesthesia. After recovery, he seemed ...
  A: This is not unusual for someone that age who has undergone a major surgical procedure. The condition ...
Hip Replacement6/10/2008
  Q: Dr. Levy, My father-in-law, 84, has had a heart attack about 9 years ago. His heart is doing fine ...
  A: There are many ways to do the anesthesia here (including an epidural). We do general anesthesia all ...
anesthesiology6/9/2008
  Q: I am going to be a junior this year. And i been looking through careers, and this one keeps sticking ...
  A: I can't tell you how to get over a fear other than to say that if you do your best and don't slack ...
Right arm trembling when arm is not kept close to body6/6/2008
  Q: I had arthroscopic surgery 2 weeks ago today and had general anesthesia. Since then I am having ...
  A: This question is probably best asked of your orthopedic surgeon because he knows what was wrong with ...
Anesthesiology6/6/2008
  Q: Dr.Ronald Levy, My name is Brittany and I am 18 years old. I have just finished high school ...
  A: To become an anesthesiologist you need 4 yrs of college, 4 yrs of medical school and 4 yrs of ...
propofol, buprenex drug interaction6/5/2008
  Q: Levy, Thank you in advance for helping people and for sharing your medical expertise and knowledge. ...
  A: Your question is a difficult one to answer because there is no direct answer. While we give most ...
back pain6/3/2008
  Q: after the birth of my daughter in june 06 i started having excruciating pain on the right side ...
  A: Obviously without examining you it would be impossible to give too much advice here but I ...
My wife, Haile Sandra Plafkin6/1/2008
  Q: I thank you for this opportunity to ask you questions which have come about since my wife Haile ...
  A: First of all, I don't know where you are so it is hard to answer that question. If, for example, you ...
My wife, Haile Sandra Plafkin6/1/2008
  Q: I thank you for this opportunity to ask you questions which have come about since my wife Haile ...
  A: First of all you should not feel guilty letting her have the operation. Complications do happen and ...
Amnesia5/31/2008
  Q: I am a flight paramedic with Emory Flight in Atlanta, Georgia and I have an anesthesia question. ...
  A: The only drugs I know that cause amnesia are the ones you mentioned so I am pretty sure that is what ...
Testing for Viral Causes5/31/2008
  Q: After a diagnosis of cholestatic jaundice, with all else being ruled out as a cause and viral being ...
  A: This question is probably better asked of a general internist rather than an anesthesiologist, but ...
Becoming an anesthesiologist5/31/2008
  Q: I've been recently having an interest in anesthesiology and what its like I'd like to become one, so ...
  A: You need 4 yrs college, 4 yrs medical school and 4 yrs anesthesia residency. As for being fun or ...
Pre-Surgery Cardiac Testing5/29/2008
  Q: I recently had surgery, and all is well, but today I read my cardiologist's letter clearing me for ...
  A: It depends on the type of surgery. There is a checklist put out by the American Heart Association ...
Lumbar Injections/Menstrual Cycle5/29/2008
  Q: I had two rounds of steroid injects in my lumbar region back in Mid April. These were done back to ...
  A: This is not due to the steroid injections and if you have had continued bleeding for 4 weeks, you ...
spinal headache5/29/2008
  Q: I had a myelogram done to diagnose a degenerative disc. It seemed to go well. However, that night ...
  A: Normally I would say to go back already, but since you say it's getting better and would prefer to ...
Malignant Hyperthermia5/27/2008
  Q: I have two questions. I am wanting to get a deviated septum and fractured nose corrected. Problem is ...
  A: Paralysis for a rhinoplasty is really anesthesiologist choice. It is not required but it often makes ...
Malignant Hyperthermia5/27/2008
  Q: I have two questions. I am wanting to get a deviated septum and fractured nose corrected. Problem is ...
  A: Sometimes a little knowledge is dangerous. I think your risks of MH are extremely small. If you have ...
Dreams About Surgery5/26/2008
  Q: I hope you don't mind if I ask you another q. I had breast cancer surgery last year, and about a ...
  A: It is NOT commmon to put ear plugs and I don't know of anyone that does. I also can't tell you if ...
Masking5/26/2008
  Q: I have been through three surgeries in two different hospitals in the past year, and I find the same ...
  A: It's not that they hide behind you but rather that is where the equipment is. I agree they shouldn't ...
Fentanyl and Versed Adverse Reaction5/24/2008
  Q: Dr. Levy, My husband has been diagnosed with Cholestatic Jaundice. Recent labwork still resulting ...
  A: Removing the gallbladder will have no effect on lowering the billirubin as the gall bladder is just ...
Fentanyl and Versed Adverse Reaction5/23/2008
  Q: Dr. Levy, My husband has been diagnosed with Cholestatic Jaundice. Recent labwork still resulting ...
  A: The most likely cause of liver problems (not related to drinking, etc) is viral so my guess is that ...
Fentanyl and Versed Adverse Reaction5/22/2008
  Q: Dr. Levy, My husband has been diagnosed with Cholestatic Jaundice. Recent labwork still resulting ...
  A: I don't know where he gets that idea. I don't know of any studies that have linked either drug to ...
spine numbness/tingling5/21/2008
  Q: I had my second c-section almost 8 months ago (sept 24/07) and lately I have had progressively worse ...
  A: It is definitely something to be concerned about but it doesn't sound related to the anesthesia per ...
Majoring in Anesthesiology5/20/2008
  Q: I just got my associate's degree in arts. I already enrolled at U of H as a business major, however ...
  A: As I said, you can major in anything you want but remember there are a lot of prerequisite courses ...
ANESTHESIOLOGISTS5/19/2008
  Q: MY NAME IS CIERRA. I AM CURRENTLY IN THE TENTH GRADE. I AM WORKING ON MY CAREER POWERPOINT AND I ...
  A: 1. HOW MANY YEARS DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE MY MASTERS IN ANESTHESIOLOGY? You don't take a Master's ...
CRNA5/13/2008
  Q: I am 17 and about to be a senior in high school. I know I want to work with anesthesiology but I'm ...
  A: To answer your first question, CRNAs do the same thing as anesthesiologists. The main difference is ...
colonoscopy sedation5/13/2008
  Q: I have 2 first-degree relatives who have died form colon cancer; I'm, 51 and have some of the ...
  A: I'm sorry for the difficulties you've had but you should not just skip it. Ignoring a potential ...
colonoscopy sedation5/13/2008
  Q: I have 2 first-degree relatives who have died form colon cancer; I'm, 51 and have some of the ...
  A: The first question to ask is why you don't want sedation? I have never understood why people want to ...
halagons5/13/2008
  Q: What are some of the properties of the halogens used in the haloalkanes? Also, does the halogen ...
  A: I'm not sure I understnad your question. Are you asking about the basic biochemical properties or ...
Questions about Post Surgery affects of anesthesia5/12/2008
  Q: My mother had her second back surgery Friday and here it is Monday and she still is not awake and ...
  A: I doubt the anesthestic is the problem but she should certainly be evaluated to make sure there is ...
anesthesia5/12/2008
  Q: My grandmother, who is 90 years old, just had a her aortic valve replaced and she is doing fine ...
  A: I won't say the reactions are normal but they are not abnormal or unexpected. There are several ...
foot pain5/12/2008
  Q: i had an epidural in july of 2007 with the birth of our 7th child. from that day on i have pain in ...
  A: It is impossible to say without a complete exam. You need to see a neurologist first to see if the ...
Anesthia reaction during surgery5/9/2008
  Q: My 73 year old mother had a colonoscopy under general anesthia and they had a hard time waking her ...
  A: There is no "anesthesia" reaction that looks like a stroke. Some people take longer than others to ...
Anesthesia: Nurse or MD...5/9/2008
  Q: Ronald Levy, I am currently at a crossroads in my career. I am 28yrs old, I have a B.A from Boston ...
  A: All anesthesiologists work in a hospital. Some are employed by the hospital on salary and some are ...
Anesthesiologist5/7/2008
  Q: I heard that to be an anesthetic we have to do 4years of college, 4 years of medical school and then ...
  A: Your question is confusing. You can major in any subject, do the pre-reqs and still get out of ...
residency5/7/2008
  Q: how long can it take to get accepted into a residency program? and can more than one hospital accept ...
  A: Residents are usually placed using the NRMP (National Residency Matching Program) in which each ...
Anesthesiologist5/6/2008
  Q: I heard that to be an anesthetic we have to do 4years of college, 4 years of medical school and then ...
  A: You can major in anything you want as long as you take all the prerequisite courses during college. ...
Propofol for oral surgery5/6/2008
  Q: In a couple of weeks I will be having my wisdom teeth extracted. The oral surgeon I am seeing ...
  A: Each state law is different but if your oral surgeon has had proper training in the use of Propofol ...
Hello5/6/2008
  Q: Levy, I am getting ready to graduate high school at the end of this month. I am going to Carson ...
  A: It is very tough to be a physician and it is very competitive but anyone has the potential to ...
Nardil/colonoscopy & EGD5/6/2008
  Q: I'm in the medical field myself as a Nurse Practitioner. The GI performing my upcoming procedure ...
  A: The problem with Nardil is not like it was in the past but you should still try to let the ...
Anesthesia: Nurse or MD...5/5/2008
  Q: Ronald Levy, I am currently at a crossroads in my career. I am 28yrs old, I have a B.A from Boston ...
  A: What does a typical week look like for a MDA? How often can one expect to be on call? Can a MDA work ...
Anesthesia: Nurse or MD...5/5/2008
  Q: Ronald Levy, I am currently at a crossroads in my career. I am 28yrs old, I have a B.A from Boston ...
  A: Depending on the type of practice you have, you can have free time with either profession. The main ...
thyroid nodule surgery5/4/2008
  Q: it looks like I will be having a thyroid nodule removed from my neck and I'm wondering, do you know ...
  A: It would be next to impossible to do this under regional or local so general is the only way to go. ...
Twilight anesthesia and amnesia5/4/2008
  Q: I am having elbow surgery next week and will have a regional block with twilight anesthesia. I've ...
  A: Versed is an amnestic but it doesn't guarantee that you will have amnesia. For most people they ...
GPA/ grades5/4/2008
  Q: I really really want to be an Anesthesiologist. But my family seems to doubt me because of my ...
  A: I'm assuming you're in high school so you have a long way to go. The real test will be in college. ...
Twilight anesthesia and amnesia5/4/2008
  Q: I am having elbow surgery next week and will have a regional block with twilight anesthesia. I've ...
  A: As the saying goes, "you can't have your cake and eat it too". Some people can be relaxed with ...
anethesia side effects5/3/2008
  Q: I had surgery on Wed. 4/30 and today is Saturday 5/3. After the surgery my tongue was totally numb ...
  A: My feeling is that the numbness is caused by the tube they put in to help you breathe. It should go ...
allergic to anesthesia5/3/2008
  Q: My 55 year old mother has had four surgeries. In each one of her surgeries, while she was under the ...
  A: You don't say what other medical problems your mom has but I'll assume she has congestive heart ...
work hours?5/1/2008
  Q: i was just wondering what your work hours per week are. also i do not understand if anesthesiologist ...
  A: Work hours depend on where you are working (private vs academic) and are different during residency ...
lower back and leg pain5/1/2008
  Q: I had to have an epidural and csection with my son in march 07. every since then i have had lower ...
  A: It could be from 2 possible causes. Obviously if they had a problme placing the epidural, they could ...
Becoming a doctor5/1/2008
  Q: My name is Jon, and I am in college. I really want to become a doctor, but I HATE BLOOD. 1) Did you ...
  A: I never hated blood but that could certainly make medical school a problem for you. There are ...
Awake During Colonoscopy4/30/2008
  Q: Although I am only 19 years old I have had severe problems with my colon for a couple years. To rule ...
  A: Clearly they did not give you enough sedation although without seeing the chart, I can't know why. ...
HELP PLEASE4/30/2008
  Q: My husband is an end stage renal patient.On Fri 5/18 he was well enough to drive himself to and from ...
  A: It is not the anesthesia per se. Certainly anesthesia can make you foggy and confused for a day or ...
under anesthesia4/26/2008
  Q: my boy friend went to any oral surgeon, and they used demeral and somthing else that starts with a ...
  A: The V is Versed which is an anxiolytic (makes you relaxed and calm). You boyfriend was not put to ...
Epidural Question after Back Surgery4/25/2008
  Q: I had a triple fusion with hardware(4 cages, rods and screws) at L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1. I am pregnant ...
  A: You don't need to lay on your back for 8 hours after either but some people have you do it any way. ...
Epidural Question after Back Surgery4/25/2008
  Q: I had a triple fusion with hardware(4 cages, rods and screws) at L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1. I am pregnant ...
  A: It is certainly possible although it is more difficult and you are more likely to have a patchy ...
double balloon endoscopy on 4/18/084/23/2008
  Q: It's 4/23 and I'm still hoarse with slight sore throat. I'm obese with extra weight around neck. ...
  A: I assume when you say endoscopy you mean through the mouth. If that's the case, the sore throat is ...
Anesthesia4/22/2008
  Q: Dr. Levy, I about to graduate high school. I want to become an anesthesiologist, but, i don't know ...
  A: In college you spend the first two years taking intro courses. Make sure to take the required ...
terrified to get nessesay surgury4/22/2008
  Q: I am a 55 year old woman. I had a c-section but I was awake and also a huge lipuma tumor taken off ...
  A: As with all things, nothing is perfect and no one will tell you that there is a 100% chance that ...
terrified to get nessesay surgury4/21/2008
  Q: I am a 55 year old woman. I had a c-section but I was awake and also a huge lipuma tumor taken off ...
  A: First of all that statistic about 1000 people being awake but paralyzed is completely incorrect. It ...
Back Pain after Epidural4/21/2008
  Q: I am 9 weeks post partum and having back pain in the mid to lower portion of my back. During my ...
  A: It's certainly possible but there is no way for me to know without examining you, etc. If the pain ...
what do they do...4/17/2008
  Q: What do they do when they "put u to sleep" ? Like how.. a shot or what? And what do u feel (if ...
  A: Depending on your age, you can go to sleep with a mask or with an IV. With the IV we give the ...
anesthesiology4/17/2008
  Q: I was wondering what kind of requirements are needed to be accepted into a good medical school and ...
  A: There are course requirements (biology, calculus, chemistry and physics) and you need to get ...
books on anesthesiology4/17/2008
  Q: I'm a sophomore in high school and am interested in pursuing Anesthesiology. I was wondering if you ...
  A: I don't know of any specific books about anesthesia as a career. There are obviously many books on ...
Surgery4/16/2008
  Q: I am a 59 Y O female and have a UPPP scheduled for 5-21-08, due to sleep apnea and other obstructive ...
  A: Serotonin is the suspected neurotransmitter responsible for sleep. It is a breakdown product of ...
Twilight Anestheia4/15/2008
  Q: What are the risks you would outline when opting for twilight anesthesia? I understand there is a ...
  A: There is no discomfort, you don't need to worry about laing in one position without moving for a ...
Is there anything that will numb the skin?4/15/2008
  Q: Levy, I have had a badly infected finger with swelling, pockets of pus and fever in it for about ...
  A: It's not that he can't do it (the procedure itself is relatively easy). The problem is realizing ...
Is there anything that will numb the skin?4/15/2008
  Q: Levy, I have had a badly infected finger with swelling, pockets of pus and fever in it for about ...
  A: You should go to an emergency room ASAP and get the finger drained properly before you get ...
Twilight Anestheia4/15/2008
  Q: What are the risks you would outline when opting for twilight anesthesia? I understand there is a ...
  A: Amnesia is not necessarily related to length of procedure. The drug we give for sedation (Versed) ...
aspiring md4/14/2008
  Q: I have never been interested in Anesthesiology utnil I came to college. Is it too late to get on the ...
  A: It's never too late. I don't know how far into college you are but as long as you take all the ...
Becoming and anesthesiologist4/14/2008
  Q: I want to become an anesthesiologist but I hear it's sort of hard or risky to "put all you eggs in ...
  A: You are not necessarily putting all your eggs in one basket. At any point along the trip you can ...
Surgery4/13/2008
  Q: I am a 59 Y O female and have a UPPP scheduled for 5-21-08, due to sleep apnea and other obstructive ...
  A: No that doesn't make sense. Often in surgicenters you see the anesthesiologist on the day of surgery ...
Right Path?4/13/2008
  Q: Dr. Levy, I am currently a junior in high school. I have recently finished all my credits for ...
  A: You should be going for a Bachelor's degree (either BA or BS). You don't get a medical degree in ...
alcohol and anesthesia4/13/2008
  Q: Dr Levy, My husband, John, who is 62 went into the hospital for a full knee replacement on 1/21. ...
  A: Ativan is similar to Valium and you are correct in that it can cause the symptoms you describe. ...
Right Path?4/13/2008
  Q: Dr. Levy, I am currently a junior in high school. I have recently finished all my credits for ...
  A: QUESTIONS: 1. What college would you suggest I apply for, out of Utah? How about New York Medical ...
Surgery4/12/2008
  Q: I am a 59 Y O female and have a UPPP scheduled for 5-21-08, due to sleep apnea and other obstructive ...
  A: The problem is that people read about the bad things that happen because thats what sells. ...
conscious? sedation for colonoscopy4/8/2008
  Q: I had a colonoscopy and they gave me Demerol 75mg and Versed 5mg IV push (according to the dictated ...
  A: We usually try to get to a certain level of sedation before we start the procedure. If we did it the ...
Which antibiotic would be the best?4/8/2008
  Q: I'm not sure who to ask this question to, because of my heart,{all 4 valves leak} I need antibiotics ...
  A: Unfortunately I'm the wrong person to ask this. While as anesthesiologists we administer ...
9 month old, ear surgery4/7/2008
  Q: My daughter is 9 months old and his having ear tube surgery. Can you tell me the type of anesthesia ...
  A: She will have general anesthesia by mask. The risks are very minimal assuming she is otherwise ...
Freshman Pre-med courses4/6/2008
  Q: I am a senior in h.s. and I recently received my acceptance letter to UT. I was hoping if you could ...
  A: There is no course in college for anesthesia. You first have to get through college, then medical ...
conscious? sedation for colonoscopy4/3/2008
  Q: I had a colonoscopy and they gave me Demerol 75mg and Versed 5mg IV push (according to the dictated ...
  A: Every patient is different and these drugs are titrated to effect. I am sure they did not just take ...
epidural and periphial neuropathy4/3/2008
  Q: I recently had an emergency c-section and had an epidermal that did not take properly. When the ...
  A: First of all, you should be seen by an anesthesia pain specialist to evaluate this progressing pain. ...
Is there a type of anesthesia they can give...4/2/2008
  Q: What kind of anesthesia can they give someone if they need to be awake enough to answer questions?
  A: It depends on what kind of surgery your talking about. It could be a regional anesthetic (like a ...
amnestic for bone marrow biopsy4/2/2008
  Q: I was with a friend of mine when she had a bone marrow biopsy and it was so painful that her whole ...
  A: Generally speaking, a bone marrow biopsy is a very short procedure and they should give some local ...
iv sedation4/1/2008
  Q: I have to have an endoscopy and colonoscopy, I have never had any type of sedation before and I am ...
  A: You have nothing to worry about. Sedation will not negatively affect your PVCs and it is very safe. ...
spinal headache4/1/2008
  Q: I had an LESI 3 1/2 weeks ago. Almost immediately I began having pain at the base of my skull on the ...
  A: Have you seen an anesthesia pain specialist? You need to be evaluated to make sure there is nothing ...
local anesthesia4/1/2008
  Q: Over 20 years ago I had a root canal using lidocaine. I received my injection of lidocaine and ...
  A: What you have doesn't sound like an allergy (which usually presents with itching, rash or breathing ...
Severe Vomiting after Anesthesia -- how do I prevent this again?3/31/2008
  Q: Levy: During my early 20's I had shoulder surgery and the anesthesiologist advised me to have full ...
  A: There is no way to "test the waters" and there is nothing to fear. Even if you can't talk to the ...
amnestics3/30/2008
  Q: I just read this about amnestic anesthesia and wondered if it was true and if so, what are the names ...
  A: I don't know where you read that but we don't do such things on a regular basis. The only time I can ...
Keppra used with anesthesia3/30/2008
  Q: I had my wisdom teeth removed and told the anesthesiologist that I was allergic to narcotics ...
  A: I think you mean Ketamine. Ketamine is a phencyclidine anesthetic and does have the unpleasant side ...
anesthsia/colonoscopy3/30/2008
  Q: Levy, Recently I had a colonoscopy, before the procedure I informed the doctor and the ...
  A: While we use weight as a starting point, they are correct that dosage is not entirely weight ...
Salary3/30/2008
  Q: I'm very stuck as to what I'd like to do for a career. I hear that anesthesiologists make 250k-400k ...
  A: Never pick a creer by how much money you make. You have to love what you do first. Yes, the salary ...
Jaw Surgery3/27/2008
  Q: I am having upper jaw surgery in a couple months to correct an open bite. What type of anesthesia ...
  A: I assume you will have general anesthesia, in which case you will have a breathing tube. There is ...
Severe Vomiting after Anesthesia -- how do I prevent this again?3/26/2008
  Q: Levy: During my early 20's I had shoulder surgery and the anesthesiologist advised me to have full ...
  A: You don't say how long ago your previous surgery was but there are already some medications that ...
anti-emetics with anesthesia3/24/2008
  Q: It looks like I will be having surgery soon to remove a thyroid nodule on my neck. Aside from my ...
  A: We routinely give Zofran intraoperative so there would be no problem giving you that. Regarding ...
Requirements and flexibility3/24/2008
  Q: Levy, I am a Freshman in high school and i was wondering the prerequisite courses required to ...
  A: I am a Freshman in high school and i was wondering the prerequisite courses required to become an ...
Bilateral Femoral Nerve Damage and Surgery3/22/2008
  Q: After the birth of my daughter in July 2007, I got a rectovaginal fistula and bilateral femoral ...
  A: The surgeons should always be careful about the position they put you in but it certainly wouldn't ...
ponv3/20/2008
  Q: I was wondering wat is the appropriate definition of Post Operative Nausea and Vomiting thank you
  A: There is no standardized definition of PONV. In general, most people consider it prolonged nausea ...
Conscious Sedation during pregnancy3/17/2008
  Q: My sister is about 5 weeks pregnant and just last week she had a dental procedure where she was ...
  A: Was she aware that she was pregnant at the time? Halcion is not recommended during pregnancy and ...
Memory loss at Age 41 due to anesthesia3/17/2008
  Q: I am the wife of a man who has recently begun experiencing memory difficulties after a surgery using ...
  A: It has nothing to do with the wrong dose of anesthesia or the length of anesthesia and it likely has ...
short term memory loss following surgery3/17/2008
  Q: I had brain surgery on Feb. 19, 2008. I was in surgery for about 3 hours. A skull tumor was ...
  A: It is unlikely associated with anesthesia but depending on where the tumors were pressing, that ...
anesthesia and C-section3/14/2008
  Q: With my first baby they had given me an epidural, but it wore off shortly after it had taken affect. ...
  A: Assuming you don't have any chronic back problems (which can sometimes affect the spread of the ...
memory loss in older adults due to anesthesia3/13/2008
  Q: Following my wife’s successful operation before she was 60 she I noticed a very subtle loss in her ...
  A: 1. Have researchers ever looked into the effects of anesthesia on human memory specifically on older ...
memory loss in older adults due to anesthesia3/13/2008
  Q: Following my wife’s successful operation before she was 60 she I noticed a very subtle loss in her ...
  A: The drug we use for amnesia is called Versed and while it does cause memory loss for the time ...
Strong Interest in the Field3/11/2008
  Q: i am a 24 year old college student and am interested in a career as an anesthesiologist. I have ...
  A: The process is you need 4 yrs college, 4 yrs of emdical school and then 4 yrs of anesthesiology ...
versed how much appropriate3/10/2008
  Q: I had a colonoscopy several years ago and it took hours to be aware. I just had surgery for an ...
  A: To answer your first question, Propofol can drop your blood pressure. Versed does not prevent this. ...
Anesthesiology3/9/2008
  Q: How many years of schooling are required to become an anesthesiologist? What is the average annual ...
  A: How many years of schooling are required to become an anesthesiologist? 4 yrs college, 4 yrs ...
Post-OP Problem due to Anesthesia?3/9/2008
  Q: Levy - I had a hernia operation on Monday and have since been having trouble sleeping (except for ...
  A: It is possible that the anesthetics affected your sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm) although I ...
numb/burned lip3/9/2008
  Q: I had a laproscopic surgery to remove endometriosis tissue growing outside of the uterus. It has ...
  A: There is no "named" nerve to the lip but obviously pressure on the lip may have caused one of the ...
anesthesiolgy3/6/2008
  Q: I am a student of high school. And my subjects are sciences.Is it necessary for me to take physics ...
  A: If you want to attend medical school in the states it is probably better to do your college here as ...
paralytic drug - lasting effects3/4/2008
  Q: If someone has been sedated and paralyzed for approx. 3wks to 1 month, how long after the paralytic ...
  A: It can take a while for paralytics to wear off (I can't give you an exact time as it depends on a ...
sedation for colonoscopy3/3/2008
  Q: I know that most people are happy with the amnesia caused by sedatives such as midazolam (why would ...
  A: What they do in Europe is not necessarily what is best for the patient but might be what is less ...
sedation for colonoscopy3/3/2008
  Q: I know that most people are happy with the amnesia caused by sedatives such as midazolam (why would ...
  A: Diphenhydramine is Benadryl whic in this case is being used as a sedative (we often give it as a ...
amnesia medicine3/2/2008
  Q: I have had surgery recently and I told the doctor and anesthesiologist not to use Versed because I ...
  A: I doubt the Versed is causing the crying, etc but it is certainly an amnestic and people do have ...
Colonoscopy sedation - follow up question/comment3/1/2008
  Q: I truly do appreciate the time and attention that you provided in response to my initial question. ...
  A: OF course I can't speak for what another doctor says and does. I will tell you that Scopalamine is ...
2 surgeries in 1 week2/29/2008
  Q: I am going for a GI push enteroscopy w/biopsies & ulcer repair on Monday. (Dr says approx 45 min ...
  A: There is no problem with 2 surgeries that close together (in fact we often do it for patients with ...
am i allergic to anestetic?2/28/2008
  Q: ive had 3 ops in my life. the 1st was when i was 7 and i had my tonsils out. i was ment to go home ...
  A: You should not accept that answer and need to get more details. While you are probably not ...
sedation for colonoscopy2/28/2008
  Q: I know that most people are happy with the amnesia caused by sedatives such as midazolam (why would ...
  A: The first question is "Why do you NEED to remember your colonoscopy??" Ativan also causes sedation ...
Short Term Memory Loss2/28/2008
  Q: My dad was about to go through a surgery on his leg. He was given spinal anesthetic however when ...
  A: Some of the drugs we give do cause amnesia so if this occurred immediately after surgery then it ...
Colonoscopy sedation2/28/2008
  Q: How can I find a gastroenterologist who will listen and respect my wishes for no sedation for a ...
  A: Most people would find colonoscopy without any medication extremely unplesant. But if that is what ...
Anesthesiology during Masectomy/Reconstruction2/28/2008
  Q: My wife is considering reconstructive surgery immediately following a bilateral masectomy. This ...
  A: I don't know what you mean by a buffering agent but we do have medications that reduce the risk of ...
anesthesia2/28/2008
  Q: I am scheduled to have an outpatient surgery in a couple of weeks and have been told that a CRNA ...
  A: Alergie to anesthesia are extremely rare so I don't think you have anything to worry about. CRNAs ...
Anesthesiologist Basic Questions2/26/2008
  Q: Let me start off by saying I'm very thankful of all the questions you've answered here. They have ...
  A: A lot of questions! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Would I have to do anything of this sort as an ...
anxiety/depression after surgery2/16/2008
  Q: Dr. Levy, I have had surgery three times in the past 20 years that was followed by months of severe ...
  A: I can't explain why you have anxiety sometimes and not others. It is probably not related to the ...
anesthesiology2/16/2008
  Q: i was wondering where should i start?what college would you recommend? what courses should i take? ...
  A: Any 4 year college is fine and your major can be anything you want as long as you take all the ...
anesthesia for surgery in 3 days2/16/2008
  Q: I am having a LAVH 2/19. I had pre-op 2/14 and I am very disappointed that I didn't get to talk to ...
  A: You shouldn't have to deal with attitude but I also have to tell you that anesthesiologists are not ...
versed and fentanyl with sleep apnea2/15/2008
  Q: i am due to have a uterine fibroid embolization procedure on the 20th. i am thinking of backing out ...
  A: Certainly weight loss can't hurt you and I would be sure to have an anesthesiologist performing the ...
Anesthesiologists2/14/2008
  Q: Honestly, What are the chances of becoming an Anesthesiologists if you are a young mother. My sister ...
  A: As high as anyone else. Many of our female residents have one two or even three children. Obviously ...
Anesthesiology2/14/2008
  Q: I am a high school senior. i am interested in Anesthesiology. I want to know what is the working ...
  A: The working environment can be stressfus but it is fun also. We are on our feet alot and the hours ...
amnesia2/14/2008
  Q: I understand that amnesia is a "desired effect" of drugs such as Versed. However, I am wondering ...
  A: First of all the Versed has nothing to do with waking up and feeling pain. Versed does cause amnesia ...
epidural question2/13/2008
  Q: where and when was epidural created. And by whom? I realy need to know the answer to this. please ...
  A: The first recorded use of an epidural is by Dr. Morris Fishbein in the March 1943 issue of Hygeia ...
Numbness in leg after anaesthetic2/12/2008
  Q: I had a general anaesthetic one one week ago for a laparoscopy, to investigate the spread of ...
  A: Without looking at your chart, etc, my first guess would be the position you were placed in for the ...
dosage2/11/2008
  Q: how do you determine the dosage of sedatives to give the patient
  A: Most dosing is done by weight but we also use common sense. If the calculation says to give 2 mg but ...
Anesthesiology2/11/2008
  Q: I am in the 9th grade and I want to become anesthesiologist, but I don't know what kind. I am in all ...
  A: You got a long way to go before you need to worry about that. You have 3 more yrs of high school, ...
concious sedation2/10/2008
  Q: I recently had a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy. I am not sure what was used for anesthesia, other ...
  A: Again they can give you a mild sedative but it may still cause amnesia. Of course you could always ...
anesthesia and absence seizures2/9/2008
  Q: My daughter is 4 years old and very healthy. She recently had to have surgery on her elbow after ...
  A: I doubt this is related to anesthesia but it should definitely be evaluated by a pediatric ...
schools and other2/9/2008
  Q: I just wanted to know if there are any recommendations for schools leading into the anesthesia ...
  A: There are no schools leading to anesthesiology. You have to first go to college, then medical school ...
Becoming an Anesthesiologist2/9/2008
  Q: I'm a junior in high school who just started to have an interest to become an Anesthesiologist as a ...
  A: First of all, relax. You already seem well prepared in terms of the classes you have taken and the ...
sundowners or anesthesia2/8/2008
  Q: Mother had a stent put into the carotid artery. When she woke she was out of it mentally. She ...
  A: First look out the window and make sure there are no terrorists :-> Seriously, this is more likely ...
Hernia2/8/2008
  Q: Do Umbilical Hernias in adults ever get better? Do they heal themselves, or do they only get worse?
  A: They don't heal themselves but if they are very small, they don't usually cause problems and you can ...
concious sedation2/8/2008
  Q: I recently had a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy. I am not sure what was used for anesthesia, other ...
  A: Amnesia is good because most people are scared of surgical procedures so the less they remember ...
IV sedation for rhinoplasty2/7/2008
  Q: I am about to have a revision rhinoplasty with a specialist who is very well-known and has literally ...
  A: You have a dillema. If the surgeon does not use Versed on a regular basis he may not be attuned to ...
Epidural2/7/2008
  Q: I am a NYC paramedic who suffered an on the job injury with an MOI of loaded forward flexion ...
  A: My first suggestion would be for you to see an Anesthesia pain specialist for a full workup of your ...
blood enzynes causing none able to wake after surgery because of anthesiology2/7/2008
  Q: last 8 surgeries have had difficulty waking from the anesthesiology after surgery. This consists ...
  A: There is no question here but I assume you want to know what the deficiency is? You may have a ...
Anesthesia question2/5/2008
  Q: I am wondering if my daughter's death had anything to do with the anesthesia she received earlier in ...
  A: Unfortunately I have nothing else to offer you. SIDS is a diagnosis of exclusion so if that is the ...
Anesthesia versus sedation2/4/2008
  Q: I had Malignant Hyperthermia as a result to general anesthetic and would like to have breast ...
  A: Yes it is (depending on the type of augmentation). You can still have a general anesthetic as long ...
MRI with anesthesia2/3/2008
  Q: My daughter is going to be getting an MRI and will be sedated. I was told she would only receive ...
  A: Usually for babies we do a general anesthetic as sedation is not enough to keep babies from moving ...
Anesthesia question2/3/2008
  Q: I am wondering if my daughter's death had anything to do with the anesthesia she received earlier in ...
  A: I doubt it is related to the anesthesia but without more details of the surgery, the patient, etc., ...
General anesthetic problem2/3/2008
  Q: I just had surgery on my vocal cords under general anesthetic. I am a 50 year old diabetic female ...
  A: Whoever told you to not have general anesthesia again was obviously not an anesthesiologist. There ...
Medical School-Anethesiology2/2/2008
  Q: I've recently been checking out different medical schools and i am interested in going to one but i ...
  A: There is no medical school for anesthesia..that is a residency you take after medical school. GPA ...
Anesthesiology residency question1/31/2008
  Q: I am a medical student and I was wondering what you think anesthesiology is going to be like in the ...
  A: I can't predict the future but I exepct anesthesiology will continue to be a highly sought after ...
dental surgery1/30/2008
  Q: I am a 29 year old female and I will be having dental surgery very soon. I will be given nitrous ...
  A: As long as your dentist is properly trained in the use of anesthesia, there is nothing to worry ...
Loss of memory1/30/2008
  Q: A friend of mine had surgery (Masectomy and recontruction)and has had a total of 8 hours in 3 months ...
  A: Not likely. In general there may be some perioperative amnesia but if the memory loss extends before ...
Anesthesiology Residency1/30/2008
  Q: I am a 52-year-old female. I was a practicing anesthesiologist in Pakistan. I cleared my USMLE in ...
  A: Likely very small but that doesn't mean don't try. Anesthesiology is very competitive now so I can't ...
anesthesiology1/28/2008
  Q: Do you get payed on vacations and holidays
  A: It depends. If you are a salaried employee (e.g. you are an academic anesthesiologist)ydo get paid, ...
becoming an Anesthesiologist1/26/2008
  Q: I am 23 years old. I served four years in the military and now I am very interested in becoming an ...
  A: You are not too old at all. Many people take time off between college and med school so you are ...
Post Anesthesia effect that the Anesthesiologist has never heard of.1/26/2008
  Q: On Wednesday evening, January 23 I had to undergo an emergency eye surgery (a victrectomy), under ...
  A: I do not know of any relationship and the only reference I can find for this was a letter to the ...
Persistant back pain1/26/2008
  Q: i delivered a baby in sept 5 2007, and was given a spinal anesthesia, prior to this the ...
  A: First off all, the orthopedic surgeon should stick to orthopedics and not tell you things that are ...
Requirements1/26/2008
  Q: About 2 years ago I had steroid epidural injection and it went terribly wrong. I know you won't ...
  A: I am not a pain specialist and do not perform this procedure so my comments here probably are not ...
Labour, Epidural and Prozac1/26/2008
  Q: I am 30 weeks pregnant and take fluoxetine(prozac)20mg daily. I wish to have an epidural during ...
  A: There is no problem to have an epidural while on Prozac. More important is the potential risk of ...
versed/fentanyl1/25/2008
  Q: I recently had hernia repair surgery, during which the anesthesiologist used versed and fentanyl. I ...
  A: The amnesia is normal and in fact a desired outcome. Most people are scared of the whole OR ...
Anesthesiologist losing jobs1/25/2008
  Q: I am a currently in the 10 grade and have decided that I wanted to become a anestheiologist when I ...
  A: Don't worry. CRNA's fill a niche but they cannot replace anesthesiogists. All CRNAs must be ...
Requirements1/25/2008
  Q: About 2 years ago I had steroid epidural injection and it went terribly wrong. I know you won't ...
  A: There is no such thing as interning in anesthesiology. He either completed a residency or not. As to ...
Becoming an Anesthesiologst1/24/2008
  Q: first of all I'm 18 yrs old and I'm a senior in highschool, I have really been looking into this ...
  A: MAny people don't take Calculus before college and they do fine. It's nice to have an idea about it ...
anesthesiology1/22/2008
  Q: I am really considering anesthesiology as a career option. I am in love with biology, chemistry, ...
  A: You are already starting off well. You don't need to like all courses to do well in anesthesia, just ...
Pain after Spinal1/21/2008
  Q: I had surgery 15 days ago in which I had a spinal administered. Since about the day after surgery I ...
  A: It is unusual (but not unheard of) to have aome stiffness 2 weeks later. What kind of surgery did ...
anesthesiology1/20/2008
  Q: I'm a senior in high school ... I've recently moved from Palestine to the states...so my English ...
  A: If you have taken these courses before, it doesn't matter the language. In any case, you will be ...
Knee Surgery1/11/2008
  Q: I am scheduled for arthroscopic bilateral knee surgery for torn menisci in two weeks. I want to be ...
  A: If it is just a meniscus tear, then you have many options. You could have a spinal which will let ...
anesthesia1/9/2008
  Q: I had surgery two days ago, As a result if the anesthgesia, I have had very sharp pains in the ...
  A: You don't mention what kind of surgery you had but the pain you are having is not from the ...
Anesthesiology1/8/2008
  Q: Hey Dr. Levy, I was considering a career in anesthesiology. So I had a few simple questions. Sure I ...
  A: It takes 8 years after college and can cost between $40,000 and over $100,000. In high school you ...
general anaesthetic1/7/2008
  Q: I am having squint surgery on the 11th of january. I am very worried about dying when i am under, ...
  A: Assuming you don't take any more illicit drugs prior to your surgery, you should have no problem ...
Help1/7/2008
  Q: I rely want to go into this field but I'm scared of not making it because of my grades now! If I ...
  A: They are unrelated questions. If you make bad grades through middle and high school then the ...
Anesthesilogist12/24/2007
  Q: I'm a sophomore in high school and I wanted to ask you a few questions about Anesthesiology. I ...
  A: Osteopaths have basically the same training as allopaths except they also perform manipulations ...
Anesthesilogist12/24/2007
  Q: I'm a sophomore in high school and I wanted to ask you a few questions about Anesthesiology. I ...
  A: Man, thant's a lot of questions. Most of these you don't need to know for a long time but I'll ...
The Age12/21/2007
  Q: I'm 19 yrs old I have been in college for 1 year now an I am attending a Community College, I want ...
  A: I had decided to be a doctor when I was a child but anesthesiology was a second choice. I was a ...
valium allergy and versed12/18/2007
  Q: I am allergic to valium (broke out in hives). Previously when I have had an operation or procedure I ...
  A: Versed is different from Valium stucturally so there should be no problem with cross-reactivity with ...
Pursuing a career in anesthesiology, at Age 21?12/17/2007
  Q: Levy, First and foremost, I would like to thank you for your time and commitment. The abridged ...
  A: You haven't lost much time so don't worry too much about that. You need a 4 yr degree if you want to ...
blood count12/17/2007
  Q: i couldn't find an expert in this area. a large bruise has developed after my blood count. it is ...
  A: I assume you mean that you had your blood drawn for a lab test. The most likely casue of this is ...
medications you are taking and surgery12/17/2007
  Q: My husband is 69 and takes Levothyroxine, Cardizem CD and Lisinopril/Hydrochlorothiazide. I have ...
  A: We need to know because some of the drugs can affect the medications we give and also it often gives ...
4 years residency12/16/2007
  Q: I'm 16 and in 10th grade and I am looking into becoming an anesthesiologist. During residency what ...
  A: If seeing naked people and dead people affects you so much you may have trouble in any area of ...
post operative nausea and vomiting12/16/2007
  Q: I recently had surgery and after surgery, i felt nausea. I heard it was called Post operative nausea ...
  A: The limbic system of the brain controls our nausea and vomitting center but no one knows why it ...
Upcoming surgery12/15/2007
  Q: I am due to have surgery in the next week and I have a few questions. I met with the anesthesia ...
  A: Many of the agent we use have anti-seizure properties so I am sure your anesthesiologist will use ...
Sevoflorane and children12/14/2007
  Q: My six year old needs to be anesthestized for a dental procedure. The dentist said they use ...
  A: Sevoflurane is now the anesthetic gas of choice for children. We used to use Halothane for mask ...
Upcoming surgery12/13/2007
  Q: I am due to have surgery in the next week and I have a few questions. I met with the anesthesia ...
  A: First of all, it might be possible to do the whole procedure under regional (which would eliminate ...
medical school12/12/2007
  Q: i really am thinking about pursuing a career in anesthesiology. i know i have to go to a medical ...
  A: Nothing will guarantee that you won't get rejected but obviously the higher your GPA the better. It ...
Anesthesiologists12/10/2007
  Q: I will be a senior next year, I will be taking AP Bio, AP Chem, Ap Calc 1, Ap Calc 2, Medical ...
  A: There is no best college to go to. The things to look for in a college are the same as anyone ...
SPINAL WITH MAOI12/9/2007
  Q: I have read numerous places that a spinal administered to a patient on mardil will increase the ...
  A: Yes, we can certainly sedate the patient. In general this