Implantable Loop Recorder or implantable cardiac monitor

A loop recorder is an implantable cardiac device that continuously monitors your heart rate and rhythm during your daily activities. A cardiologist implants the device in the chest with a simple outpatient procedure. The device can record the heart for three to six years.

Who Is It for?

Your doctor may recommend an implantable loop recorder if you have:

• Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia)
• Fainting spells (syncope)
• An unexplained stroke
• An abnormal rhythm such as atrial fibrillation or heart block

What to Expect Before, During and After the Procedure

Before the procedure

Be sure your healthcare team knows all the medications you take. Your team will let you know what medications you can or cannot take before your procedure. Arrange to have someone drive you home after your ICD procedure.

During the procedure

Most procedures are done under light sedation with local anesthesia. Your doctor will implant the device through a small incision in the chest.

After the procedure

Most patients go home the same day and return to their normal activities immediately. It’s normal to have soreness and bruising around the incision for several days after the procedure. Your healthcare team will tell you how to care for yourself at home, including how to keep your surgical wound clean.

Before you leave the hospital, the medical team will show you how to use the equipment that syncs with your device. This equipment includes:

• An electronic transmitter that you keep near your bed. This device regularly delivers data from your loop recorder to your cardiologist.
• A hand-held activator with a button to press when you experience symptoms.

Benefits of an Implantable Loop Recorder

Benefits of an implantable loop recorder include:

• Long-term monitoring: Unlike other types of cardiac monitoring devices, implantable loop recorders monitor and record your heart’s electrical activity over a long period of time, which is helpful for detecting events that happen infrequently.
• Automatic and continuous recording: The device automatically and continuously monitors and records abnormal heart activity. This helps detect abnormal heart rhythms that don’t cause symptoms.
• Convenience: An implantable loop recorder lets you go about your normal activities, including bathing and swimming.

Risks and Potential Complications of Implantable Loop Recorders

Even minor surgeries have certain risks, including:

• Bleeding or bruising.
• Infection, which could require removal of the device.
• Mild pain at the incision site.

Another risk associated with implantable loop recorders is the possibility of false positives. For example, a loop recorder may indicate you have an abnormal heart rhythm when you don’t. Your doctor will perform additional testing to confirm a diagnosis.

Follow-up Care

You’ll have health checkups once or twice a year while the loop recorder is in place. You’ll keep it until your cardiologist confirms a diagnosis, which can vary for each person. If the loop recorder shows you need a pacemaker or implantable cardiac defibrillator, it will be removed when you receive your new device.