Locations
Department of Anesthesiology
Los Angeles, CA
Phone
Insurances accepted
BlueCross BlueShield
About
Bio
Dr. Karen Sibert is a board-certified anesthesiologist in private practice in Los Angeles; she is Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She graduated from Princeton University, and received the M.D. degree with Honor from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Her residency training and fellowship were completed at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. Dr. Sibert specializes in high-risk anesthesia for adult patients, including lung surgery, obesity surgery, and major cancer surgery. She is married and the mother of three, and blogs at www.apennedpoint.com.
To make an appointment with Dr. Sibert for a consultation about anesthesiology, please contact the Cedars-Sinai Department of Anesthesiology at 310-423-5841. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is located at 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles CA, 91423.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Anesthesiology
Doctor Q&A
386 Answers
271 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
It depends: It is possible to breathe entirely on your own during general anesthesia, depending on the type of surgery you have. With some types of airway device... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Several options: Knee arthroscopy can sometimes be done under local anesthesia with sedation. Often, major operations such as knee or hip replacements are done under ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
No!: Head lice do not carry or transmit any disease. (body lice do transmit disease, but they are different.) you may get a secondary skin infection from... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Serious disease: Spinal muscular atrophy is a group of inherited diseases that cause muscle damage and weakness which get worse over time. The most severe form starts ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 52-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Yes!: Always use good hand hygiene when visiting anyone who is sick. You didn't mention what type of hepatitis your friend has--some types like hepatitis b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Serious problem: COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It's a problem with the lungs that makes it hard to breathe and can deprive the body of critica... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Different problems: Nausea and vomiting can be treated with medications such as ondansetron (zofran) or Metoclopramide (reglan). Anxiety is more complicated. If anxiety... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Shampoo and comb!: A thorough shampoo with l% Permethrin (nix) is the most effective over-the-counter treatment. This should kill all the live insects. Then it is very... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Depends why: If you're talking about an epidural for labor pain, the medication will be kept on the light side so you can still move your legs and maybe walk aroun... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
What's the cause?: Treatment of your sciatic nerve pain would depend on the cause. You may need imaging studies or other tests to determine the source of the pain. It ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
It depends: Back surgery can vary widely--it can be a tiny incision for a microdiskectomy or a long incision for a spinal fusion. Pain requirements can vary a lot... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Causes sleep: Propofol brings about sleep quickly and allows a patient to wake up quickly, with few side effects and very little nausea. It is useful at the start o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Possibly not: Drug testing can detect even minute amounts of painkillers and other drugs. If your job requires drug testing, you need to find out which pain medica... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Very low risk: I have to disagree with you--epidurals very rarely cause any long-term problems, and often are used in the treatment of back pain from other causes. L... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Get another opinion: No one should live with constant pain. Help is available. Pain is a sign that something is wrong, and may need treatment. First you need a diagnosis; ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Pain relief: We would need more info to answer your question in detail. Local anesthetics (numbing medicines) can be injected into a specific area, such as around ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Be sure of diagnosis: Propofol and succinylcholine are very useful drugs, but both carry risks of histamine release and other potentially dangerous side effects. Speak wit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
No reason to worry: There really is no such thing as being allergic to anesthesia. When you have general anesthesia for surgery, you are given different medicines for di... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Very low risk: Talk to the anesthesiologist before surgery. Any medicines that your child usually takes to control the svt should be taken with a sip of water on the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Drowsy at first: Many people are surprised when they wake up, because it feels as though no time has passed at all. They can't believe that their procedure is actuall... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Happens sometimes: Nerve blocks sometimes fail even when done by very experienced doctors. The fall-back option is always general anesthesia. Sometimes too, even though ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Depends why: Often a d & c may be done under sedation with Propofol and other meds such as versed or fentanyl. The gyn doctor may use local anesthesia around the c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Can stop breathing: In the late stages of emphysema or copd, patients do not respond normally to stimuli that make normal patients breathe. They only keep breathing in re... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Yes!: An endotracheal tube is one of the ways that upper airway obstruction can be managed in an emergency, because it goes into the windpipe (trachea) and ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
None usually: Pure ether has not been used in anesthesia in the U.S. For many years. The newer anesthetic gases such as sevoflurane and Desflurane have been chemica... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
It depends: What are her other health problems? Chronic airway obstruction can be caused by copd, chronic bronchitis, sleep apnea, morbid obesity, or other factor... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
What is this pain in buttock? could it be from gluts not getting workout while i was on strict diet?
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Need more info: Pain in the buttock radiating down the back of the leg could be related to the sciatic nerve. Or it could simply be a muscle strain or pull. If you co... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Specialized care: Physician anesthesiologists graduate from medical school and have 4 or more years of extra training in anesthesiology. They may specialize in pediatri... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 55-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
No: Spinal anesthesia is used for surgery on the lower abdomen (such as a c-section) or on the legs. It causes profound numbness, and can't be given at a ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Unlikely!: Novocaine, which is a type of local anesthesia injected to numb an area, wears off relatively quickly within an hour or two. It is absorbed into the b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Education!: Physician anesthesiologists have graduated from medical school and done another 4 years of special residency training. Nurse anesthetists are rns with... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Depends on situation: Probably not. Most biopsies can be done under local anesthesia (numbing medicine) injected near the site. For patients who are extremely anxious, medi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Bupivacaine: Bupivacaine (marcaine, sensorcaine) is the longest-acting local anesthetic. Adding Epinephrine to it can make the duration even longer. Exactly how lo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Depends on situation: For labor and delivery, regional anesthesia (spinal or epidural) is preferred for mothers of all ages. For surgery, regional anesthesia for teens may ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
No: Nitrous oxide goes away quickly once you stop breathing it. With narcotics or alcohol, the more you use them, the more you need to achieve the same e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Short-lived: General anesthesia that a mother receives passes through her system into the baby's system. However, it goes away quickly too. If the baby were born r... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Depends on situation: How old is your child, and what kind of surgery is needed? These factors will affect what is needed. Talk to the anesthesiologist in advance. Sometime... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Different effects: Both are medications given IV (into a vein) to make someone sleep. Propofol may be used as a sedative or at the start of general anesthesia (ga); etom... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Avoid triggers: Asthma that is well controlled with inhalers poses little risk under ga. The anesthesia gases in current use (desflurane, sevoflurane) actually are go... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Few side effects: All local anesthetics must be given in the appropriate dose for the age and weight of the patient. In the right dose, these medications have few if an... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
See your doctor!: Opiate withdrawal should be overseen by your doctor, who will help you tailor medications to your specific situation. It is not possible to say what m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Brief discomfort: A needle biopsy involves insertion of a hollow needle into the site where the lump or abnormality is located, and then extraction of a small amount of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Several effects: Norco is a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Other trade names are vicodin and lorcet. Side effects of hydrocodone are similar to other na... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Yes, but worth it: Anesthesiologists are physicians who care for patients during surgery and other procedures. This involves selecting the best meds for anesthesia for e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Depends on situation: Talk to your dentist about what kind of anesthesia he/she plans to use. Tooth extraction may be done with local anesthesia alone, meaning that the are... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Depends on situation: The longer the procedure takes, the longer a patient will be sleepy afterwards. Elderly people take longer for medications to clear out of their syste... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
No: Lorcet is the brand name for a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen--a narcotic pain reliever and tylenol. These are completely different medi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Yes, but...: I assume you mean a pregnancy test. For a home pregnancy test to become positive, the fertilized egg must implant into the uterus, and the new placen... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Shouldn't matter: For most allergy medicines, it shouldn't make much difference whether you take them with food or on an empty stomach. Be sure to read any instruction... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Artery blockages: Usually, angiography is done to look for problems in blood supply to the heart. Blockage in the coronary arteries could lead to a heart attack. If a b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
888
Thank you notes
Feb 25, 2013
Excellent consultant in Anesthesiology. A model for our profession.
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Sibert is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Sibert is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you! Yes, I didn't the hives the next day after my surgery so within 24 hours. I've tried topical creams (i.e. hydrocortisone, Benadryl, and prescribed steroidal creams). The steroid prescriptio...Read More
HealthTap member
Her PCP thinks it may have been her metaformin for diabetes interacting with her mobic, causing her kidneys to shut down. We won't have a "for sure" answer, but hopefully some changes in her meds and ...Read More
HealthTap member
Trouble is this is a small town and most all physicians are a part of Health Care Partners Of Nevada. It seems the DEA has scared all the Dr
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Baylor College of Medicine, TX
Graduated 1982MD
Residency
Yale New Haven Hospital
Residency
Hospital of St. Raphael
Awards
Member, Alpha Omega Alpha
Member, Phi Beta Kappa
Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society
Affiliations
California Society of Anesthesiologists
American Society of Anesthesiologists
Duke University Medical Center
Publications
Thromboprophylaxis and Major Oncologic Surgery Performed with Epidural Analgesia
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