Tip of technology: Urologist has helped hospitals improve services

By Dana Cole
Herald/Review

BISBEE — When it comes to cutting-edge technology, Dr. Anthony Nazaroff boasts a litany of “firsts” for Cochise County.

It’s technology that has helped to refine surgical procedures dealing with a number of urologic and prostate problems.

A board certified urologist, Nazaroff has been practicing in this area for nine years. He performs surgeries out of Copper Queen Community Hospital and Sierra Vista Regional Health Center, as well as performing some procedures out of his practice, Southeast Arizona Urology Care Center.

Nazaroff also has privileges in some of Tucson’s hospitals, including St. Joseph’s Hospital, University Medical Center, Tucson Medical Center and Kino Community Hospital.

“I’ve introduced a lot of ‘firsts’ to this area,” Nazaroff said. “Copper Queen Community Hospital had the first digital flexible ureteroscope, and was the first hospital in the state to acquire this technology. It’s neat to have firsts in such a rural setting, even before larger hospitals in Phoenix and Scottsdale have the technology.”

The flexible ureteroscope allows Nazaroff to perform complex stone surgeries with no incision through the patient’s back, as was the standard before acquiring the new ureteroscope.

“The digital ureteroscope allows us to treat large kidney stones very effectively, without using the more complex procedure,” Nazaroff said. “Because we are able to completely treat the stones with no incision through the back, it allows a faster operation and a much faster recovery for the patient, with less pain and complication.”

The Copper Queen hospital’s new Holmium laser is another piece of equipment that brings patients a minimally invasive surgical approach for the treatment of urologic and kidney stones. Patients can be treated for tumors, strictures and all types of stones. The laser is capable of cutting stones into fragments that are easy to remove, or can be passed spontaneously.

In addition, patients suffer less discomfort and bleeding with the use of the laser, as it can operate with delicate precision.

Nazaroff was one of the first urologists in the county to perform green light laser prostate surgery, technology that enables the patient to go home the same day of the procedure. As one of the first urologists in the nation to receive training in laser prostate surgery, Nazaroff brought laser technology to the local hospitals when he arrived in the area in 1999.

Salt water TURP, or trans-urethral resection of the prostate, is another operation performed by Nazaroff with excellent success. The procedure is for the treatment of enlarged prostate glands, when the enlargement puts pressure on the urethra and causes problems with urination.

“The classical TURP had some risks, especially in patients with larger glands,” Nazaroff said. “Absorption of the irrigating fluid during the procedure could, in rare cases, cause life-threatening risks. With the use of salt water, that risk is eliminated, allowing treatment of even the largest prostate glands.”

Nazaroff facilitated acquisition of the equipment for salt water TURP for the Bisbee and Sierra Vista hospitals.

“I was the first surgeon using this technology in the county,” Nazaroff said.

The salt water procedure allows patients to go home the same day.

Prior to the two technologies for prostate surgeries, salt water TURP and green light laser, patients’ hospital stays averaged between two and three days, Nazaroff said.

For the treatment of urinary incontinence in men, Nazaroff chalked up another first by recently performing the first Advanta male sling surgery in the county, which was also one of the first such procedures in the state.

Nazaroff completed his undergraduate work at the University of California in San Diego, majoring in animal physiology. He attended medical school at Rush Medical College in Chicago. His urology residency was done at Scott & White Hospital, through Texas A&M.

A member of the American Urology Association, Nazaroff treats urology problems in men and women, as well as pediatrics.

HERALD/REVIEW reporter Dana Cole can be reached at 515-4618 or by e-mail at dana.cole@bisbeereview.net.

WHAT HE BROUGHT TO A HOSPITAL

Dr. Anthony Nazaroff provided the following list of state-of-the-art urologic technologies available at Copper Queen Community Hospital in Bisbee:

• Digital flexible ureteroscope, the first in Arizona.
• New holmium laser with faster treatment times.
• Green light laser prostate surgery, patient goes home the same day.
• Gyrus prostate resectoscope, a same-day procedure.
• A medical team specializing in the treatment of urinary incontinence in both men and women, offering the latest technology.
• Soon to be acquired, a CT, or computed tomography, scanner with fast scanning times and lower radiation exposure to the patient.

ABOUT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE

Southeast Arizona Urology Care Center, which has six exam rooms, a procedural operating room and three offices, is located at 3533 Canyon de Flores, Suite A, in Sierra Vista. Dr. Anthony Nazaroff’s office can be reached by calling 803-7640.