What is an implantable loop recorder?
An implanted loop recorder is a heart-monitoring device that continuously records your heart rhythm for up to three years. It lets your doctor to keep an eye on your heartbeat from afar as you go about your regular routine.
During a brief procedure, the little device, also known as a cardiac event recorder, is inserted just beneath the skin of your chest.
Dr. Julian Javier discusses what a loop recorder is and why a patient may need one of these implantable cardiac monitoring devices.
Why is it done?
If you have any of the following conditions, your doctor may consider an implanted loop recorder:
An irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
Unknown cause of a stroke
Fainting for no apparent reason (syncope)
An implanted loop recorder can collect data that a typical electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor might miss, such as short or occasional arrhythmias.
What can you expect during the procedure?
Typically, the following can be expected:
It's possible that you'll be offered medication to help you relax.
To numb your skin, a local anesthetic will be applied.
A tiny incision will be made in your skin. This is often done in the upper left chest.
A tiny pocket will be made beneath your skin by your healthcare professional. In this pocket, he or she will put the loop recorder. The device is roughly the size of a AA battery when flat.
Sutures will be used to close your incision. A bandage will be applied to the affected region.
How to prepare for a loop recorder implantation?
An implanted loop recorder requires no extra preparation.
It's possible that you won't be able to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery. Before the procedure, follow your healthcare provider's advice regarding what medications to take. Unless your doctor advises you to, don't stop taking any medications.
Before the surgery, he or she may request testing such as an ECG or EKG.
What happens after a loop recorder implantation?
The operation has a very low risk of complications. However, because the device is implanted via minor surgery, you'll need to keep an eye out for symptoms of infection, such as redness or swelling. Your doctor and nurse will advise you on what to look for. It's possible that you'll have to limit your activities while the wound heals.
You'll be given a transmitter to keep next to your bed. While you sleep, the transmitter delivers information from your implant to your doctor. When you experience symptoms, you may also press a button to send data right away.
Your doctor might advise you to keep track of your symptoms and when they occur in a journal.
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