Interventional Cardiologist in Las Vegas

Interventional Cardiology Q & A

Angiography

Angiography is a diagnostic imaging procedure that allows Dr. Khan to see exactly where and how severely your arteries are narrowed or blocked. During the procedure, a thin catheter is guided through a blood vessel — typically in the wrist or groin — to the area being evaluated. A contrast dye is then released through the catheter, and X-ray imaging captures how the dye flows through your arteries in real time, revealing blockages, narrowing, or abnormal blood flow that can't be detected with a physical exam alone.

What to expect: Angiography is typically performed under local anesthesia with light sedation, and most patients are awake throughout. The procedure itself usually takes 30–60 minutes. You may feel a warm sensation as the contrast dye is injected, but the procedure is not painful.

Recovery: Most patients go home the same day. You'll need someone to drive you, and you should plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Mild bruising or tenderness at the catheter insertion site is common and typically resolves within a few days. Dr. Khan will review the results with you and discuss next steps, which may range from lifestyle changes to a more targeted intervention.

Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS)

Intravascular ultrasound gives Dr. Khan a detailed, inside-out view of your blood vessels that standard angiography can't provide. A catheter with a miniature ultrasound probe is threaded into the artery or vein being examined, capturing cross-sectional images of the vessel wall, plaque buildup, and blood flow. This level of detail helps confirm the exact size and severity of a blockage and guides precise placement of stents or other treatment devices.

What to expect: IVUS is almost always performed alongside another catheter-based procedure, such as angiography or stenting, rather than as a standalone visit. It adds only a small amount of time to the overall procedure and does not require any additional recovery beyond what the primary procedure calls for.

Recovery: Because IVUS is combined with another procedure, recovery expectations mirror that primary procedure — typically same-day discharge, a short rest period, and monitoring of the catheter insertion site for a few days.

Angioplasty and Stenting

Angioplasty and stenting treat arteries that are significantly narrowed or blocked by plaque, restoring healthy blood flow to the heart or limbs. Dr. Khan threads a catheter with a deflated balloon to the site of the blockage, then inflates the balloon to compress the plaque against the artery wall and reopen the vessel. In most cases, a stent — a small mesh tube — is then placed to hold the artery open and reduce the chance of it narrowing again.

What to expect: The procedure is performed under local anesthesia with sedation and generally takes one to two hours, depending on the number and location of blockages being treated. Many patients notice improved energy, reduced chest pain, or relief from leg pain (in the case of PAD) shortly after the procedure.

Recovery: Most patients stay a few hours for monitoring and go home the same day or the following morning. You'll typically be advised to avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting for about a week, and Dr. Khan will likely prescribe a short course of blood-thinning medication to protect the stent as your artery heals. A follow-up visit is scheduled to confirm the treated vessel remains open.

Atherectomy

Atherectomy is used when plaque buildup is too hard, calcified, or extensive for a balloon alone to treat effectively. Rather than pushing plaque against the artery wall, Dr. Khan uses a specialized catheter fitted with a rotating or cutting device to physically shave away or remove the plaque, clearing the pathway for blood to flow. It's often used in combination with angioplasty and stenting for more complex or long-standing blockages, particularly in peripheral arteries.

What to expect: Atherectomy is performed under local anesthesia with sedation, generally taking one to two hours. Because it directly removes plaque rather than just compressing it, it's frequently the preferred option for heavily calcified vessels that wouldn't respond well to a stent alone.

Recovery: Recovery is similar to angioplasty and stenting — same-day or next-morning discharge, a brief period of reduced activity, and a follow-up visit to confirm the vessel is healing well and blood flow has improved.

Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Closure

A patent foramen ovale is a small, flap-like opening between the heart's upper chambers that everyone has before birth and that normally closes shortly after. In some people, it never fully closes, which can, in certain cases, allow blood clots to pass through and increase the risk of stroke. PFO closure uses a catheter to guide a small, umbrella-like closure device to the opening, where it's positioned to permanently seal it.

What to expect: The procedure is typically done under sedation and takes about an hour. Dr. Khan will confirm the diagnosis and evaluate whether PFO closure is appropriate for you, often in coordination with your neurologist if the PFO was discovered following a stroke or TIA.

Recovery: Most patients go home the same day or the next morning and can resume normal activities within a few days, avoiding strenuous exercise for a short period as directed. A brief course of blood-thinning or antiplatelet medication is common while the closure device fully integrates into the heart tissue, which typically happens within a few months.

Venous Stenting

Venous stenting is one of the vascular intervention procedures Dr. Khan offers, treating blocked or severely narrowed deep veins, most often in the pelvis or legs, which can cause chronic swelling, pain, and in some cases increase the risk of blood clots (deep vein thrombosis). Using a catheter, Dr. Khan locates the narrowed section of vein and places a stent to hold it open, restoring normal blood flow back toward the heart.

What to expect: The procedure is performed under sedation and generally takes one to two hours, depending on the length and location of the affected vein. Many patients experience noticeable relief from leg swelling and heaviness within days of the procedure.

Recovery: Most patients go home the same day. Compression stockings are commonly recommended for a period after the procedure to support healing and circulation, along with a short course of blood thinners. Walking is encouraged soon after the procedure to promote healthy blood flow, while heavy lifting and prolonged standing are typically restricted for a week or so.