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Zachary J. Kastenberg
( out of 18 reviews )

Zachary J. Kastenberg, MD, MS, FACS, FAAP

Languages spoken: English, Spanish

Clinical Locations

Primary Children's Hospital Outpatient Services at Riverton

801-662-2950

Rock Canyon Pediatric Specialists

Pediatric Surgery
801-357-1700

St. Vincent Healthcare

SCL Health Medical Group - Fortin Pediatric Specialty Clinic
406-237-5300
  • Zachary J. Kastenberg, MD, MS, FACS, FAAP is a pediatric surgeon practicing general, thoracic, and neonatal surgery. Dr. Kastenberg takes pride in his ability to care for patients with all pediatric surgical problems and to perform both routine and complex operations – often using advanced minimally invasive techniques. Dr. Kastenberg has particular interest in pediatric surgical oncology and hepatobiliary surgery. For children with solid tumors or liver/pancreas problems, he collaborates with pediatric oncologists, gastroenterologists, and the transplant team at Primary Children’s Hospital to ensure comprehensive care.

    Dr. Kastenberg earned his B.S. in Biology from the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota, and subsequently his M.D. from Harvard Medical School. He went on to complete general surgery residency at Stanford University, where he served as an Administrative Chief Resident in his final year. While at Stanford, Dr. Kastenberg earned an M.S. in Health Services Research from the Center for Health Policy. His policy research focused on improving the efficiency with which surgical care was provided to babies and children in California.

    Dr. Kastenberg subsequently completed a clinical fellowship in pediatric surgery at Primary Children’s Hospital and the University of Utah. He currently holds the position of Assistant Professor of Surgery. In addition to his clinical duties, Dr. Kastenberg is responsible for educating medical students and surgical residents. He participates in national and international societies (e.g. ACS, APSA, AAP, PAPS, SMDM) to promote the advancement of surgical sciences in Utah and across the United States, and is an active member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG).

    Board Certification

    American Board of Surgery (Sub: General Surgery)
    American Board of Surgery (Sub: Pediatric Surgery)

    Patient Rating

    4.8 /5
    ( out of 18 reviews )

    The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers.

    The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

    Patient Comments

    Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety.
    Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    May 28, 2023
    RIVERTON CLINICS

    We love Dr. Kastenberg, he has taken the best care of our little man. He made us feel comfortable and cared for.

    April 08, 2023
    PRIMARY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER

    Very professional and kind, inspires confidence in quality of care being given

  • Zachary J. Kastenberg, MD, MS, FACS, FAAP is a pediatric surgeon practicing general, thoracic, and neonatal surgery. Dr. Kastenberg takes pride in his ability to care for patients with all pediatric surgical problems and to perform both routine and complex operations – often using advanced minimally invasive techniques. Dr. Kastenberg has particular interest in pediatric surgical oncology and hepatobiliary surgery. For children with solid tumors or liver/pancreas problems, he collaborates with pediatric oncologists, gastroenterologists, and the transplant team at Primary Children’s Hospital to ensure comprehensive care.

    Dr. Kastenberg earned his B.S. in Biology from the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota, and subsequently his M.D. from Harvard Medical School. He went on to complete general surgery residency at Stanford University, where he served as an Administrative Chief Resident in his final year. While at Stanford, Dr. Kastenberg earned an M.S. in Health Services Research from the Center for Health Policy. His policy research focused on improving the efficiency with which surgical care was provided to babies and children in California.

    Dr. Kastenberg subsequently completed a clinical fellowship in pediatric surgery at Primary Children’s Hospital and the University of Utah. He currently holds the position of Assistant Professor of Surgery. In addition to his clinical duties, Dr. Kastenberg is responsible for educating medical students and surgical residents. He participates in national and international societies (e.g. ACS, APSA, AAP, PAPS, SMDM) to promote the advancement of surgical sciences in Utah and across the United States, and is an active member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG).

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Surgery -Primary
    Pediatrics -Adjunct
    Academic Divisions Pediatric Surgery
    Board Certification
    American Board of Surgery (Sub: General Surgery)
    American Board of Surgery (Sub: Pediatric Surgery)

    Education history

    Fellowship Pediatric Surgery - University of Utah School of Medicine Fellow
    General Surgery - Stanford University School of Medicine Administrative Chief Resident
    Graduate Training Health Services Research - Stanford University School of Medicine M.S.
    General Surgery - Stanford University School of Medicine Resident
    Professional Medical Medicine - Harvard Medical School M.D.
    Biology - University of Minnesota B.S.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Lopez-Verdugo F, Sanchez-Garcia J, Baraki S, Kastenberg ZJ, Sanchez-Garavito JE, Zendejas I, Alonso D, Jensen MK, Fujita S, Meyers RL, Book L, Rodriguez-Davalos MI (2023). Utilization of Segmental Grafts Is Associated With Higher Transplant Rates in Pediatric Patients. J Surg Res, 290, 28-35. (Read full article)
    2. Zeineddin S, Aldrink JH, Bering J, Hoyt DW, Kastenberg ZJ, Brungardt J, Dasgupta R, Rinehardt HN, Malek MM, Ziogas IA, Roach JP, Craig BT, Rothstein DH, Lautz TB (2023). Multi-institutional assessment of the prevalence of neuroendocrine tumors in children undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis in the United States. Pediatr Blood Cancer, e30620. (Read full article)
    3. Naik-Mathuria B, Utria AF, Ehrlich PF, Aldrink JH, Murphy AJ, Lautz T, Dasgupta R, Short SS, Lovvorn HN 3rd, Kim ES, Newman E, Lal DR, Rich BS, Pich N, Kastenberg ZJ, Malek MM, Glick RD, Petroze RT, Polites SF, Whitlock R, Alore E, Sutthatarn P, Chen SY, Wong-Michalak S, Romao RL, Al-Hadidi A, Rubalcava NS, Marquart JP, Gainer H, Johnson M, Boehmer C, Rinehardt H, Seemann NM, Davidson J, Polcz V, Lund SB, McKay KG, Correa H, Rothstein DH (2023). Management and Outcomes of Wilms Tumor with Suprarenal Intravascular Extension: A Pediatric Surgical Oncology Research Collaborative Study. Ann Surg. (Read full article)
    4. Iantorno SE, Ulugia JG, Kastenberg ZJ, Skarda DE, Bucher BT (2022). Postdischarge Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pediatric Appendicitis: A Mediation Analysis. J Surg Res, 282, 174-182. (Read full article)
    5. Kastenberg ZJ, Deneau MR, OBrien EA, Huynh K, Book LS, Srivastava R, Jensen MK, Jaramillo CM, Guthery SL (2023). Fractionated Bilirubin Among 252,892 Utah Newborns With and Without Biliary Atresia: A 15-year Historical Birth Cohort Study. J Pediatr, 257, 113339. (Read full article)
    6. Kastenberg ZJ, Arkin C, Wallis MC, Boemers T, Rollins MD (2022). Stapled neoappendicostomy: A novel technique. J Pediatr Surg, 57(12), 1029-1030. (Read full article)
    7. Russell KW, Katz MG, Phillips RC, Kelley-Quon LI, Acker SN, Shahi N, Lee JH, Fialkowski EA, Nacharaju D, Smith CA, Jensen AR, Mueller CM, Padilla BE, Ignacio RC, Ourshalimian S, Wang KS, Ostlie DJ, Fenton SJ, Kastenberg ZJ, Western Pediatric Surgery Research Consortium (2022). Adolescent Vaping-Associated Trauma in the Western United States. J Surg Res, 276, 251-255. (Read full article)
    8. Al-Hadidi A, Rinehardt HN, Sutthatarn P, Talbot LJ, Murphy AJ, Whitlock R, Condon S, Naik-Mathuria B, Utria AF, Rothstein DH, Chen SY, Wong-Michalak S, Kim ES, Short SS, Meyers RL, Kastenberg ZJ, Johnston ME 2nd, Zens T, Dasgupta R, Malek MM, Calabro K, Pich N, Callas H, Lautz TB, McKay K, Lovvorn HN 3rd, Commander SJ, Tracy ET, Lund SB, Polites SF, Davidson J, Dhooma J, Seemann NM, Marquart JP, Gainer H, Lal DR, Rich BS, Glick RD, Maloney L, Radu S, Fialkowski EA, Kwok PE, Romao RLP, Rubalcava N, Ehrlich PF, Newman E, Diehl T, Le HD, Polcz V, Petroze RT, Stanek J, Aldrink JH (2022). Incidence and management of pleural effusions in patients with Wilms tumor: A Pediatric Surgical Oncology Research Collaborative study. Int J Cancer, 151, 1696-1702. (Read full article)
    9. Rich BS, Fishbein J, Lautz T, Rubalcava NS, Kartal T, Newman E, Wok PE, Romao RL, Whitlock R, Naik-Mathuria B, Polites SF, Lfberg K, Lascano D, Kim E, Davidson J, Btter A, Kastenberg ZJ, Short SS, Meyers RL, Mastropolo R, Malek MM, Weller J, Irfan A, Rhee DS, Utria AF, Rothstein DH, Riehle K, Commander SJ, Tracy E, Becktell K, Hallis B, Lal D, Li O, Dal-Soglio DB, Pich N, Gomez Quevedo O, Murphy AJ, Davidoff AM, Cooke Barber J, Watters E, Dasgupta R, Glick RD (2022). Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor: A Multi-Institutional Study from the Pediatric Surgical Oncology Research Collaborative. Int J Cancer, 151, 1059-1067. (Read full article)
    10. Short SS, Kastenberg ZJ, Wei G, Bondoc A, Dasgupta R, Tiao GM, Watters E, Heaton TE, Lotakis D, La Quaglia MP, Murphy AJ, Davidoff AM, Mansfield SA, Langham MR, Lautz TB, Superina RA, Ott KC, Malek MM, Morgan KM, Kim ES, Zamora A, Lascano D, Roach J, Murphy JT, Rothstein DH, Vasudevan SA, Whitlock R, Lal DR, Hallis B, Btter A, Baertschiger RM, Lapidus-Krol E, Putra J, Tracy ER, Aldrink JH, Apfeld J, Le HD, Park KY, Rich BS, Glick RD, Fialkowski EA, Utria AF, Meyers RL, Riehle KJ (2022). Histologic type predicts disparate outcomes in pediatric hepatocellular neoplasms: A Pediatric Surgical Oncology Research Collaborative study. Cancer, 128, 2786-2795. (Read full article)
    11. Morgan KM, Anderson KT, Johnston ME, Dasgupta R, Crowley JJ, Fahy AS, Lapidus-Krol E, Baertschiger RM, Lautz TB, Many BT, Marquart JP, Gainer H, Lal DR, Rich BS, Glick RD, MacArthur TA, Polites SF, Kastenberg ZJ, Short SS, Meyers RL, Talbot L, Abdelhafeez A, Prajapati H, Davidoff AM, Rubaclava N, Newman E, Ehrlich PF, Rothstein DH, Roach JP, Ladd P, Janek KC, Le HD, Leraas HJ, Tracy ET, Bisset L, Mora MC, Warren P, Aldrink JH, Malek MM (2022). Interhospital variability in localization techniques for small pulmonary nodules in children: A pediatric surgical oncology research collaborative study. J Pediatr Surg, 57, 1013-1017. (Read full article)
    12. Russell KW, Acker SN, Ignacio RC, Lofberg KM, Garvey EM, Chao SD, Bliss DW, Smith CA, Nehra D, Anderson ML, Bunnell BL, Shahi N, Perry JM, Evans LL, Kwong JZ, Tobias J, Rohan A, Pickett KL, Kaar JL, Kastenberg ZJ, Laskey AL, Scaife ER, Jensen AR (2021). Child physical abuse and COVID-19: Trends from nine pediatric trauma centers. J Pediatr Surg, 57(2), 297-301. (Read full article)
    13. Kastenberg ZJ, Taylor MA, Durham MM, Calkins CM, Rentea RM, Wood RJ, Avansino JR, Levitt MA, van Leeuwen KD, Lewis KE, Reeder RW, Rollins MD (2021). Perioperative and long-term functional outcomes of neonatal versus delayed primary endorectal pull-through for children with Hirschsprung disease: A pediatric colorectal and pelvic learning consortium study. J Pediatr Surg, 56(8), 1465-1469. (Read full article)
    14. Acker SN, Diaz-Miron J, Ignacio RC, Russell KW, Lofberg K, Shew SB, Peterson PN, Kelley-Quon LI, Jensen AR, Lee J, Padilla B, Smith CA, Kastenberg ZJ, Azarow KS, Ostlie DJ, Wang KS, Inge TH, Western Pediatric Surgery Research Consortium (2021). Attitudes Affecting Decision-making for Use of Radiologic Enteral Contrast in the Management of Pediatric Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction: A Survey Study of Pediatric Surgeons. J Surg Res, 267, 536-543. (Read full article)
    15. Pruitt LCC, Kastenberg ZJ, Fenton SJ, Short SS (2020). Early use of autologous blood patch pleurodesis in children is successful in resolving persistent air leaks. J Pediatr Surg, 56(3), 629-631. (Read full article)
    16. Taylor MA, Cutshall ZA, Eldredge RS, Kastenberg ZJ, Russell KW (2020). High ligation in adolescents: Is it enough? J Pediatr Surg, 56, 1865-1869. (Read full article)
    17. Wall N, Kastenberg Z, Zobell S, Mammen L, Rollins MD (2020). Use of an enterocolitis triage and treatment protocol in children with Hirschsprung disease reduces hospital admissions. J Pediatr Surg, 55(11), 2371-2374. (Read full article)
    18. Apfeld JC, Kastenberg ZJ, Gibbons AT, Carmichael SL, Lee HC, Sylvester KG (2020). Treating Center Volume and Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Outcomes in California. J Pediatr, 222, 146-153.e1. (Read full article)
    19. Kastenberg ZJ, Scaife ER (2020). Adrenocortical tumors in children. Semin Pediatr Surg, 29(3), 150927. (Read full article)
    20. Kastenberg ZJ, Wall N, Malhotra N, Zobell S, Mammen L, Short SS, Rollins MD (2019). The effect of multidisciplinary colorectal center development on short-term hospital readmissions for patients with anorectal malformations or Hirschsprung disease. J Pediatr Surg, 55(3), 541-544. (Read full article)
    21. Apfeld JC, Kastenberg ZJ, Gibbons AT, Phibbs CS, Lee HC, Sylvester KG (2019). The disproportionate cost of operation and congenital anomalies in infancy. Surgery, 165(6), 1234-1242. (Read full article)
    22. Grendar J, Jutric Z, Leal JN, Ball CG, Bertens K, Dixon E, Hammill CW, Kastenberg Z, Newell PH, Rocha F, Visser B, Wolf RF, Hansen PD (2017). Validation of Fistula Risk Score calculator in diverse North American HPB practices.LID - S1365-182X(17)30057-6 [pii]LID - 10.1016/j.hpb.2017.01.021 [doi]. HPB (Oxford), 19, 508-514. (Read full article)
    23. Sylvester KG, Kastenberg ZJ, Moss RL, Enns GM, Cowan TM, Shaw GM, Stevenson DK, Sinclair TJ, Scharfe C, Ryckman KK, Jelliffe-Pawlowski LL (2017). Acylcarnitine Profiles Reflect Metabolic Vulnerability for Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Newborns Born Premature. J Pediatr, 181, 80-85.e1. (Read full article)
    24. Apfeld JC, Wren SM, Macheka N, Mbuwayesango BA, Bruzoni M, Sylvester KG, Kastenberg ZJ (2015). Infant, maternal, and geographic factors influencing gastroschisis related mortality in Zimbabwe. Surgery, 158(6), 1475-80. (Read full article)
    25. Bruzoni M, Jaramillo JD, Kastenberg ZJ, Wall JK, Wright R, Dutta S (2015). Long-term follow-up of laparoscopic transcutaneous inguinal herniorraphy with high transfixation suture ligature of the hernia sac. J Pediatr Surg, 50(10), 1767-71. (Read full article)
    26. Kastenberg ZJ, Hurley MP, Weiser TG, Cole TS, Staudenmayer KL, Spain DA, Ratliff JK (2015). Adding insult to injury: discontinuous insurance following spine trauma. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 97(2), 141-6. (Read full article)
    27. Kim D, Fu C, Ling XB, Hu Z, Tao G, Zhao Y, Kastenberg ZJ, Sylvester KG, Wang SX (2015). Pilot Application of Magnetic Nanoparticle-Based Biosensor for Necrotizing Enterocolitis. J Proteomics Bioinform, Suppl 5. (Read full article)
    28. Kastenberg ZJ, Lee HC, Profit J, Gould JB, Sylvester KG (2015). Effect of deregionalized care on mortality in very low-birth-weight infants with necrotizing enterocolitis. JAMA Pediatr, 169(1), 26-32. (Read full article)
    29. Sylvester KG, Ling XB, Liu GY, Kastenberg ZJ, Ji J, Hu Z, Peng S, Lau K, Abdullah F, Brandt ML, Ehrenkranz RA, Harris MC, Lee TC, Simpson J, Bowers C, Moss RL (2014). A novel urine peptide biomarker-based algorithm for the prognosis of necrotising enterocolitis in human infants. Gut, 63(8), 1284-92. (Read full article)
    30. Kastenberg ZJ, Wall JK, Bruzoni M (2014). Thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia with a proximal H-type tracheoesophageal fistula. J Pediatr Surg Case Rep, 2(9), 232-5.
    31. Sylvester KG, Ling XB, Liu GY, Kastenberg ZJ, Ji J, Hu Z, Wu S, Peng S, Abdullah F, Brandt ML, Ehrenkranz RA, Harris MC, Lee TC, Simpson BJ, Bowers C, Moss RL (2014). Urine protein biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of necrotizing enterocolitis in infants. J Pediatr, 164(3), 607-12.e1-7. (Read full article)
    32. Ji J, Ling XB, Zhao Y, Hu Z, Zheng X, Xu Z, Wen Q, Kastenberg ZJ, Li P, Abdullah F, Brandt ML, Ehrenkranz RA, Harris MC, Lee TC, Simpson BJ, Bowers C, Moss RL, Sylvester KG (2014). A data-driven algorithm integrating clinical and laboratory features for the diagnosis and prognosis of necrotizing enterocolitis. PLoS One, 9(2), e89860. (Read full article)
    33. Cloyd JM, Kastenberg ZJ, Visser BC, Poultsides GA, Norton JA (2014). Postoperative serum amylase predicts pancreatic fistula formation following pancreaticoduodenectomy. J Gastrointest Surg, 18(2), 348-53. (Read full article)
    34. Kastenberg ZJ, Hurley MP, Luan A, Vasu-Devan V, Spain DA, Owens DK, Goldhaber-Fiebert JD (2013). Cost-effectiveness of preoperative imaging for appendicitis after indeterminate ultrasonography in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol, 122(4), 821-829. (Read full article)
    35. Kastenberg ZJ, Dutta S (2013). Ventral abdominal wall defects. Neoreviews, 14(8), e402-11.
    36. Kastenberg ZJ, Rhoads KF, Melcher ML, Wren SM (2013). The influence of intern home call on objectively measured perioperative outcomes. JAMA Surg, 148(4), 347-51. (Read full article)
    37. Kastenberg ZJ, Sylvester KG (2013). The surgical management of necrotizing enterocolitis. Clin Perinatol, 40(1), 135-48. (Read full article)
    38. Kastenberg ZJ, Morton JM, Visser BC, Norton JA, Poultsides GA (2013). Hospital readmission after a pancreaticoduodenectomy: an emerging quality metric? HPB (Oxford), 15(2), 142-8. (Read full article)
    39. Lin SR, Kastenberg ZJ, Bruzoni M, Albanese CT, Dutta S (2012). Chest wall reconstruction using implantable cross-linked porcine dermal collagen matrix (Permacol). J Pediatr Surg, 47(7), 1472-5. (Read full article)
    40. Kastenberg Z, Bruzoni M, Dutta S (2011). A modification of the laparoscopic transcutaneous inguinal hernia repair to achieve transfixation ligature of the hernia sac. J Pediatr Surg, 46(8), 1658-64. (Read full article)
    41. Kastenberg Z, Dutta S (2011). Guidelines for innovation in pediatric surgery. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A, 21(4), 371-4. (Read full article)
    42. Qadan M, Kastenberg Z, Carvalho B, Sultan P (2011). Crossing the pond: applying to train in the USA. Br J Hosp Med (Lond), 72(4), M50-2. (Read full article)
    43. Kastenberg ZJ, Odorico JS (2008). Alternative sources of pluripotency: science, ethics, and stem cells. Transplant Rev (Orlando), 22(3), 215-22. (Read full article)
    44. Vincent R, Treff N, Budde M, Kastenberg Z, Odorico J (2006). Generation and characterization of novel tetracycline-inducible pancreatic transcription factor-expressing murine embryonic stem cell lines. Stem Cells Dev, 15(6), 953-62. (Read full article)
    45. Rickers C, Gallegos R, Seethamraju RT, Wang X, Swingen C, Jayaswal A, Rahrmann EP, Kastenberg ZJ, Clarkson CE, Bianco R, OBrian T, Verfaillie C, Bolman RM 3rd, Wilke N, Jerosch-Herold M (2004). Applications of magnetic resonance imaging for cardiac stem cell therapy. J Interv Cardiol, 17(1), 37-46. (Read full article)

    Book Chapter

    1. Kastenberg ZJ, Bruzoni M (2015). Management of Abdominal Wall Defects. In Stevenson DK, Cohen RS, Sunshine P (Eds.), Neonatology: Clinical Practice and Procedures (pp. 1159-1166). New York: McGraw-Hill.
    2. Kastenberg ZJ, Dutta S (2015). Gastroschisis and Omphalocele. In Stevenson DK, Cohen RS, Sunshine P (Eds.), Neonatology: Clinical Practice and Procedures (pp. 509-518). New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Case Report

    1. Wood LS, Kastenberg Z, Sinclair T, Chao S, Wall JK (2016). Endoscopic Division of Duodenal Web Causing Near Obstruction in 2-Year-Old with Trisomy 21. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A, 26(5), 413-7. (Read full article)
    2. Salles A, Kastenberg ZJ, Wall JK, Visser BC, Bruzoni M (2013). Complete resection of a rare intrahepatic variant of a choledochal cyst. J Pediatr Surg, 48(3), 652-4. (Read full article)
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