Zachary Gala, MD
Hospital ResidentCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Need for kidney transplantation following vascularized composite allotransplantation: an international, multi-center case series
Mcgraw J, Gala Z, Bascone C, Amro C, Weissenbacher A, Brandacher G, Schneeberger S, Kapturczak M, Levine M, Shaked A, Rodriguez E, Barth R, Kovach S, Levin L. Need for kidney transplantation following vascularized composite allotransplantation: an international, multi-center case series. Orthoplastic Surgery 2026, 20: 1-7. DOI: 10.1097/os9.0000000000000009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchVascularized Composite AllotransplantationRenal failureGraft functionRenal transplantationPatient ATacrolimus toxicityRetrospective reviewPatient BRetrospective review of patientsCause of renal failureReview of patientsDonor renal transplantationMulti-center case seriesCohort of patientsRenal replacement therapyAcute tubular necrosisBilateral hand transplantationRecipient kidney functionTacrolimus therapySoft tissue lossRenal functionReplacement therapyCase seriesKidney impairmentSevere soft tissue loss
2025
Surgeon-Informed Clinical Decision Support Software for Surgical Risk Prediction and Outcomes Tracking
Hornick M, Talwar A, Voytik M, Gala Z, Amro C, Khan S, Deguchi A, Dao E, Khodyakov D, Rendle K, Broach R, Fischer J. Surgeon-Informed Clinical Decision Support Software for Surgical Risk Prediction and Outcomes Tracking. Journal Of Surgical Research 2025, 315: 937-949. PMID: 41202553, PMCID: PMC12718413, DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2025.09.089.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsClinical decision support softwareDecision support softwareUser burdenSupport softwareWorkflow integrationWeights of risk factorsEnd-user needsDesktop interfacePatient communicationUser interfacePerformance metricsEnd-usersModel transparencyModified-Delphi panelsData entryUsersRisk predictionApplication of risk modelsModified-Delphi methodModel performance metricsClinical contextRisk modelRisk depictionsWorkflowThematic analysisNational trends and outcomes of same-day discharge after direct-to-implant breast reconstruction: A 15-year NSQIP analysis
Kauke-Navarro M, Knoedler S, Klimitz F, Lizardi J, Allam O, Diatta F, Gala Z, Berger E, Schaschinger T, Wirtz J, Milacak Z, Broer P, Haykal S, Pomahac B. National trends and outcomes of same-day discharge after direct-to-implant breast reconstruction: A 15-year NSQIP analysis. Journal Of Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery 2025, 110: 147-155. PMID: 41045778, DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2025.09.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSame-day dischargeDTI breast reconstructionInverse probability of treatment weightingBreast reconstructionDirect-to-implant (DTI) breast reconstructionAssociated with lower oddsDirect-to-implant breast reconstructionMedical complicationsFemale breast cancer patientsOutcomes of same-day dischargeInverse probabilityBaseline patient differencesBreast cancer patientsOdds of readmissionProbability of treatment weightingShort-term complicationsSame-day discharge patientsLength of stayLarge-scale outcome studiesLower oddsPropensity score matchingLower BMIDischarged patientsPostoperative outcomesStatistical adjustmentThe Impact of Psychiatric Comorbidities on Outcomes and Quality of Life in Plastic Surgery: A Literature Review and Matched Analysis
Amro C, Chang A, Ewing J, Lemdani M, Gala Z, Broach R, Serletti J, Azoury S. The Impact of Psychiatric Comorbidities on Outcomes and Quality of Life in Plastic Surgery: A Literature Review and Matched Analysis. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 2025, 157: 670-682. PMID: 40875523, DOI: 10.1097/prs.0000000000012410.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBody mass indexSurgical outcomesPlastic surgeryComplication ratePsychiatric comorbiditiesSurgical outcomes of patientsAssociated with higher complication ratesQuality of lifeBariatric surgery historyBODY-Q scoresReduction mammaplasty patientsOutcomes of patientsHigher complication ratesSurgical site occurrencesImpact of psychiatric comorbidityPsychiatric disordersBody contouringPostoperative QoL improvementVulnerable patient populationPropensity score matchingRetrospective reviewBREAST-QPostoperative outcomesSurgery historyBody contouring patientsA Closer Look at Prepectoral Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction: A Matched-Pair Comparison of Direct-to-Implant versus 2-Stage Outcomes
Amro C, Ryan I, Ewing J, Gala Z, Lemdani M, Talwar A, Broach R, Fosnot J, Serletti J, Fischer J. A Closer Look at Prepectoral Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction: A Matched-Pair Comparison of Direct-to-Implant versus 2-Stage Outcomes. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 2025, 157: 322e-331e. PMID: 40985645, DOI: 10.1097/prs.0000000000012353.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDirect-to-implant reconstructionDirect-to-implantSurgical site occurrencesImplant-based breast reconstructionSecondary reconstructionMatched-pair comparisonPrepectoral reconstructionBreast reconstructionPrepectoral implant-based breast reconstructionAcellular dermal matrix useBreast reconstruction approachAssociated with higher ratesHistory of hypertensionBody mass indexPrepectoral planeAssociated with greater ratesMastectomy typeCapsular contractionCapsular contractureExpander lossIndependent predictorsFollow-upMass indexPrepectoralSite occurrencesAbdominal wall reconstruction in ventral hernia repair: do current models predict surgical site risk?
Gala Z, Lemdani M, Crystal D, Ewing J, Broach R, Fischer J, Kovach S. Abdominal wall reconstruction in ventral hernia repair: do current models predict surgical site risk? Hernia 2025, 29: 210. PMID: 40533622, DOI: 10.1007/s10029-025-03350-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVentral Hernia Risk ScoreSurgical site infectionSurgical site occurrencesVentral hernia repairVentral Hernia Working Group classificationArea under curveNon-SSIHernia repairYouden indexPatient demographicsOptimal cutoffSurgical site infection riskMethodsA retrospective reviewMean follow-upOptimal score cutoffSignificant healthcare burdenPre-operative measurementsAbdominal wall reconstructionRetrospective reviewSite infectionAbdominal surgeryMesh infectionValidation cohortClinical factorsFollow-upEfficacy of Microsurgical Venous Couplers in Lymphovenous Anastomosis of the Thoracic Duct: An Examination of Outcomes and Patency at Follow-Up
Crystal D, Gala Z, Brkic S, Broach R, Azoury S, Itkin M, Kovach S. Efficacy of Microsurgical Venous Couplers in Lymphovenous Anastomosis of the Thoracic Duct: An Examination of Outcomes and Patency at Follow-Up. Journal Of Reconstructive Microsurgery 2025, 42: 181-188. PMID: 40300762, DOI: 10.1055/a-2596-5270.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLymphovenous anastomosisFollow-upVenous couplerThoracic ductSymptomatic resolutionMedian postoperative follow-upVenous coupler sizeSurgical site complicationsPostoperative follow-upRelief of symptomsSingle-institutionChylous ascitesPatient seriesRetrospective reviewTechnical successAdult patientsLymphatic disruptionPerioperative informationSite complicationsPatient accrualPatent anastomosisPatientsAnastomosisThoracicMetabolic deficienciesP20. Complication Profiles in Patients Undergoing Mastectomy and Alloplastic Breast Reconstruction: Does Previous Breast Surgery Play a Role?
Crystal D, Ewing J, Lemdani M, Gala Z, Broach R, Azoury S. P20. Complication Profiles in Patients Undergoing Mastectomy and Alloplastic Breast Reconstruction: Does Previous Breast Surgery Play a Role? Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open 2025, 13: 53-54. PMCID: PMC12076381, DOI: 10.1097/01.gox.0001114268.76794.21.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLongitudinal Outcomes of Abdominoperineal Resection Reconstruction: A Single-center Retrospective Review
Gala Z, Lemdani M, Ewing J, McGraw J, Crystal D, Niu E, Rhemtulla I, Broach R, Mahmoud N, Kovach S. Longitudinal Outcomes of Abdominoperineal Resection Reconstruction: A Single-center Retrospective Review. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open 2025, 13: e6738. PMID: 40291639, PMCID: PMC12026374, DOI: 10.1097/gox.0000000000006738.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOmental flapAbdominoperineal resectionComplication ratePerineal reconstructionFistula formationPrimary closurePredisposing to fistula formationSingle-center retrospective reviewMean follow-upPostoperative complication rateRetrospective cohort reviewEnterocutaneous fistula formationPlastic surgery serviceInflammatory bowel diseaseVRAM reconstructionNeoadjuvant chemoradiationCohort reviewRetrospective reviewFlap reconstructionReconstruction complicationsFlap closureAdult patientsFlap typeMyocutaneous flapGracilis flapCentral Lymphatic Obstruction
Brkic S, Crystal D, Gala Z, Itkin M, Kovach S. Central Lymphatic Obstruction. Current Surgery Reports 2025, 13: 17. DOI: 10.1007/s40137-025-00445-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThoracic duct occlusionDuct occlusionThoracic ductLymphovenous bypassPercutaneous drainageLymphatic obstructionLymphovenous anastomosisPermanent resolution of symptomsLymphatic fluidPermanent resolutionChylous fluid accumulationChylous pleural effusionResolution of symptomsLow-fat dietIntraoperative lymphangiographyDuct anomaliesObstructed patientsNonsurgical approachPediatric patientsPleural effusionConservative treatmentDuct visualizationAdult patientsSurgical interventionSymptomatic ascites