Urology Care in Southern Arizona Expands with 1st Optilume Procedure at Carondelet St. Mary's Hospital and in Tucson

TUCSON (March 11, 2024) – Carondelet St. Mary's Hospital in Tucson announces the successful completion of the first Optilume procedure in the region. This procedure helps those dealing with scar tissue in the urethra with a simple outpatient surgical procedure with minimal downtime.

The scar tissue, called urethral strictures, causes issues with urination – impacting the quality of life for those affected. The Optilume procedure offers a minimally invasive solution to this condition, providing patients a way to treat it without surgical interventions.  Most patients may resume normal activities after a week, while previous surgical techniques require weeks of recovery. Dr. William Kuo, an urologist at Carondelet Health Network performed the first procedure, marking a significant advancement in urological care for patients in Southern Arizona.

“Under the guidance of Dr. Kuo, we are so excited St. Mary’s Hospital is helping expand urological care for the Tucson community,” said David Ziolkowski, Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital chief executive officer. “His expertise and dedication to advancing urological treatments have positioned our hospital and our entire health network at the forefront of innovative healthcare.”

"We are thrilled to bring this medical device and technology to St. Mary's Hospital. With this approach, we're not just treating urethral strictures; we're enhancing quality of life for individuals across our community,” said Dr. Kuo.