Vascular Intervention in Las Vegas

Poor circulation in the legs and feet can lead to pain, slow-healing wounds, and — in severe cases — limb loss. Vascular intervention uses minimally invasive, catheter-based procedures to reopen blocked or narrowed blood vessels and restore healthy blood flow, without the extended recovery time of traditional open surgery. At Desert Cardiovascular Consultants, board-certified interventional cardiologist Zia Khan, MD, FACC, FSCAI, provides vascular intervention services from the practice's in-house catheterization lab, treating patients throughout Las Vegas, Summerlin, Henderson, and Spring Valley. Call today or book an appointment online to learn more about vascular intervention at Desert Cardiovascular Consultants.

What does vascular intervention mean?

Vascular intervention refers to various procedures that treat vascular conditions, such as peripheral artery disease (PAD) and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). 

PAD

PAD occurs when you have narrowing or blockages in the peripheral arteries because of plaque buildup along the blood vessel walls (atherosclerosis). The peripheral arteries carry oxygen-rich blood to your arms and legs. 

CVI

CVI affects the veins in the legs. These veins are too weak to adequately pump blood back to the heart and lungs, allowing the blood to pool and collect in the ankles. The blood seeps out from the veins, causing swelling and skin discoloration. 

I have poor circulation in my legs. Can vascular intervention help?

Vascular intervention includes procedures that aim to improve circulation in the blood vessels, including those in the legs. 

At Desert Cardiovascular Consultants, Dr. Khan performs vascular intervention procedures for critical limb ischemia, a condition in which you have very poor circulation to the extremities and are at risk of amputation. Vascular intervention aims to save the limb.

What are examples of vascular intervention procedures?

Atherectomy

Atherectomy removes hardened or calcified plaque directly from the artery wall, rather than simply compressing it — making it especially useful for treating peripheral artery disease and critical limb ischemia in the legs, where plaque buildup is often extensive. Dr. Khan inserts a catheter fitted with a specialized cutting or rotating device into the affected artery, guided by intravascular ultrasound imaging to precisely locate and clear the blockage.

What to expect: Performed under local anesthesia with sedation, atherectomy typically takes one to two hours, depending on the length and severity of the blocked segment.

Recovery: Most patients go home the same day or the following morning. Walking is encouraged soon after the procedure to support healthy circulation, while heavy lifting and prolonged standing are typically limited for about a week. Dr. Khan schedules a follow-up visit to confirm improved blood flow to the limb.

Balloon Angioplasty and Stenting

Balloon angioplasty and stenting reopen arteries in the legs and arms narrowed by peripheral artery disease. Dr. Khan threads a catheter with a deflated balloon to the blocked segment, inflates it to press plaque against the artery wall, and then places a stent to keep the vessel open going forward.

What to expect: The procedure is done under local anesthesia with sedation and generally takes one to two hours. Many patients notice reduced leg pain or improved walking distance within days.

Recovery: Patients typically go home the same day or the next morning, with a short course of blood-thinning medication to protect the stent. Strenuous activity is usually restricted for about a week, and a follow-up visit confirms the vessel remains open.

Deep Venous Angiography and Stenting

This procedure treats veins that have become blocked or narrowed following a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Dr. Khan uses angiography to locate the blockage, removes the clot, and places a stent to hold the vein open and restore normal blood return to the heart — reducing the leg swelling, pain, and skin changes that chronic DVT-related blockages can cause.

What to expect: Performed under sedation, the procedure generally takes one to two hours depending on the length of vein involved.

Recovery: Most patients go home the same day. Compression stockings and a period of blood-thinning medication are common afterward to support healing and prevent the blockage from recurring. Walking is encouraged early, while prolonged sitting or standing is typically limited for about a week.

Critial limb Ischemia

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is an advanced form of peripheral artery disease in which blood flow to the legs or feet becomes so restricted that tissue is at risk of dying. Left untreated, CLI can lead to non-healing wounds, gangrene, and amputation.

Common signs of critical limb ischemia include:

• Pain in the legs or feet, even at rest
• Sores or wounds on the toes or feet that won't heal
• Skin that appears pale, shiny, or cool to the touch
• Numbness or weakness in the affected limb

Dr. Khan evaluates patients with suspected CLI promptly, since timely treatment can be the difference between saving and losing a limb. Vascular intervention procedures — including atherectomy and balloon angioplasty and stenting — are used to reopen blocked arteries and restore blood flow before tissue damage becomes irreversible. If you're experiencing symptoms of poor circulation in your legs or feet, don't wait for them to worsen — early evaluation offers the best chance of a full recovery.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) Treatment

While deep venous angiography and stenting addresses vein blockages caused by blood clots (deep vein thrombosis), chronic venous insufficiency itself — weakened vein valves that allow blood to pool in the legs — is typically treated with a different set of procedures, including endovenous laser treatment (EVLT). Dr. Khan evaluates each patient's vein health to determine whether their circulation issues stem from arterial blockages, venous insufficiency, or a combination of both, and recommends the appropriate treatment path. For more on treating varicose veins and CVI-related symptoms, visit our Varicose Veins page.

Desert Cardiovascular Consultants is a full-service, all-inclusive practice providing everything needed to manage your circulatory and heart health — from diagnosis to treatment — without the need for outside referrals. Serving patients throughout Las Vegas, Summerlin, Henderson, Spring Valley, and Centennial. Call today or schedule an appointment online.