About

Zarah D. Antongiorgi, MD, specializes in Critical Care Medicine within the field of Anesthesiology. She completed her fellowship in Critical Care Medicine at UCLA School of Medicine in 2013, following her residency and internship in Anesthesiology at the same institution, which she completed in 2010 and 2007 respectively. She earned her MD degree from UCSF School of Medicine in 2006. Dr. Antongiorgi is board certified in Critical Care Medicine and Anesthesiology by the American Board of Anesthesiology. She is affiliated with UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center and UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, providing expert care in critical care medicine.

Research topics

• Internal medicine
• Medicine
• Anesthesia
• Emergency medicine
• Intensive care medicine
• Endocrinology
• Surgery
• Gastroenterology
• Radiology

Selected publications

• Prospective validation and real-time implementation of an automated machine learning postoperative mortality prediction model

  British Journal of Anaesthesia · 2026-01-17 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Machine learning prediction models require prospective validation to ensure implementation fidelity and feasibility. Our primary objective was to prospectively validate a previously reported postoperative mortality prediction model in inpatients undergoing surgery. Our secondary objective was to evaluate feasibility of a pilot clinical decision support tool. METHODS: We prospectively validated and implemented a random forest machine learning model trained to predict in-hospital mortality using data from a single academic medical centre. A reduced 32-feature model was implemented into the electronic health record (EHR) using a real-time data mart at the same institution. To assess model performance, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), area under the curve precision-recall (AUCPR), and other performance measures were calculated. To assess feasibility, implementation workflow metrics were evaluated and a survey was administered to anaesthesiologists trained to use the pilot clinical decision support tool. RESULTS: The AUROC for the prospectively implemented model was 0.874 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.860-0.887), and the AUCPR was 0.111. By comparison, the AUROC for the 58-feature model was 0.925 (95% CI 0.900-0.947), and for ASA physical status the AUROC was 0.814 (95% CI 0.802-0.827) and the AUCPR was 0.103. The implementation demonstrated feasibility through real-time data updates, automated transfer of model outputs to the EHR, and provider survey entries. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective validation and EHR implementation of a previously published random forest machine learning model predicting postoperative in-hospital mortality demonstrated acceptable real-world performance of the implemented model and feasibility of integrating such a system into clinical practice.

  PublisherDOI

• Association between right ventricular systolic pressure and adverse outcomes following gastrointestinal endoscopy: a retrospective cohort study

  British Journal of Anaesthesia · 2026-04-29

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Pain Scores and Opioid Consumption after Robotic-assisted Abdominal Surgery: A Single Centre Historical Cohort Study

  Anaesthesia Critical Care & Pain Medicine · 2025-11-25

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Effective postoperative pain control is essential for recovery. Pain has long been considered the "fifth vital sign" in the United States, making its assessment routinely documented. However, data on pain and opioid consumption following robotic-assisted surgeries remain limited despite their widespread adoption. This study evaluated pain scores and opioid consumption in patients undergoing intermediate-risk robotic-assisted abdominal, urological, or gynecological procedures. We hypothesized that pain would be minimal (numerical rating scale (NRS < 4)) and opioid use low (<5 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) within 24 h post-surgery). METHODS: This historical cohort study included consecutive adult patients who underwent intermediate-risk robotic-assisted abdominal, urological, or gynecological surgery between 2013 and 2024. Co-primary endpoints were the maximal NRS and total opioid consumption (MME) at the end of the day of surgery (POD 0). Secondary endpoints included maximal NRS and total MME at the end of postoperative day 1 (POD 1) and the incidence of nausea and vomiting (PONV) in the post-anesthesia care unit. RESULTS: Among 9,978 cases (57% urological, 34% gynecological, 9% abdominal), median [Q1-Q3] maximal NRS and total MME were 7 [5-8] and 10 mg [5-15] on POD 0, and 6 [4-7] and 8 mg [0-12] on POD 1. PONV occurred in 11% of patients CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to the initial hypothesis, patients undergoing intermediate-risk robotic-assisted procedures experienced higher-than-expected pain scores and moderate opioid consumption on the day of surgery, emphasizing the need to optimize multimodal analgesic strategies for robotic surgery in our center.

  PublisherDOI

• Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists During Electroconvulsive Therapy

  Journal of Ect · 2024 · 4 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Medicine
  • Intensive care medicine
  • Anesthesia

  ABSTRACT: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists are an emerging class of medications transforming the management of diabetes mellitus and obesity, two highly prevalent and chronic medical conditions associated with significant morbidity and posing serious public health concerns. Although generally well tolerated and relatively safe to use, case reports of patients taking these medications while undergoing elective procedures with general anesthesia describe a potential heightened risk of regurgitation and pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents, deriving from the delayed gastric emptying effect of these agents. Based on increased recognition of this risk, the American Society of Anesthesiologists convened a task force to review available data, resulting in the promulgation of a new procedural management guideline for patients on these drugs and undergoing elective procedures with general anesthesia. However, this guideline pertains mostly to procedures and situations that are distinct from electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This case report describes the experience of a patient on semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist for obesity, undergoing ECT, provides a general overview of this novel drug class, identifies issues specific to ECT management, and suggests potential adaptations to patient care over different phases of ECT practice.

  PublisherDOI

• Author Reply to Letter to the Editor

  Journal of Ect · 2024-07-31

  letter1st authorCorresponding

  Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA Center for Neuromodulation, Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions, University of Washington, Seattle, WA [email protected]; [email protected]

  PublisherDOI

• Postoperative Trapped Lung After Orthotopic Liver Transplantation is a Predictor of Increased Mortality

  Transplant International · 2022 · 2 citations

  • Medicine
  • Internal medicine
  • Surgery

  < 0.001) following transplant. In sum, we found that post-OLT TL was associated with higher morbidity, mortality, and healthcare utilization. Future prospective investigation is warranted to further clarify the risk factors for developing postoperative pleural effusions and TL.

  PublisherDOI

• The Evaluation Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Post-Anesthesia Unit–A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study

  Journal of Clinical Medicine · 2021 · 17 citations

  • Medicine
  • Anesthesia
  • Emergency medicine

  INTRODUCTION: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is the most rapidly growing imaging modality for acute care. Despite increased use, there is still wide variability and less evidence regarding its clinical utility for the perioperative setting compared to other acute care settings. This study sought to demonstrate the impact of POCUS examinations for acute hypoxia and hypotension occurring in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) versus traditional bedside examinations. METHODS: -values < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of POCUS for assessment of acute hypotension and hypoxia in the PACU setting is associated with a reduced PACU length of stay and a reduction in suspected number of diagnoses.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Handoffs to Enhance Teamwork and Communication in the ICU

  Critical Care Medicine · 2019-05-16 · 1 citations

  letterSenior author

  Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA The authors have disclosed that they do not have any potential conflicts of interest.

  PublisherDOI

• Liver Transplantation in a Patient With Antiphospholipid Syndrome

  A & A Case Reports · 2017-06-09 · 4 citations

  article

  Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an acquired thrombophilic disorder characterized by autoantibodies to cell membrane phospholipids. While altered coagulation can complicate end-stage liver disease, there are few reports describing the perioperative management for liver transplantation in recipients with a preexisting hypercoagulable disorder, such as APS. We present a patient with a history of APS, Budd-Chiari syndrome with cirrhosis, hepatopulmonary syndrome, and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia who underwent liver transplantation complicated by hepatic artery thrombosis. Management included postoperative anticoagulation with a factor Xa inhibitor and, after repeat transplantation, transition to long-term anticoagulation therapy with eventual recovery.

  PublisherDOI

• Misconnections in the Critically Ill

  A & A Case Reports · 2016-03-01 · 16 citations

  article

  We report an unfortunate case of accidental administration of intrathecal gadolinium through an external ventricular drain in a postcraniotomy patient during magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. The incident occurred after the venous contrast line was connected mistakenly to the ventricular drainage catheter. The patient subsequently developed confusion, aphasia, and right facial droop with new computed tomography evidence of diffuse cerebral edema and stroke. Review of the magnetic resonance image revealed the inappropriate presence of subarachnoid gadolinium. Despite all interventions, the patient developed irreversible neurologic disability. We address the clinical sequelae, management strategies, and factors contributing to the catheter misconnection that led to this event.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Sumit Singh

  5 shared

• Matthias Stelzner

  4 shared

• Rachel C. Steckelberg

  4 shared

• Sepehr Rejai

  4 shared

• Nestor R. Gonzalez

  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

  4 shared

• Randolph H. Steadman

  4 shared

• Robert Martin

  Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center

  2 shared

• Elyse Guran

  Loma Linda University Medical Center

  2 shared