Implantable loop recorder
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Why might you need an implantable loop recorder?
Your doctor may suggest an implantable loop recorder if you regularly have symptoms, but previous tests (such as ECG, ultrasound/echocardiogram, Holter monitoring...) have not shown a clear cause.
Sometimes symptoms only happen occasionally, so there is a small chance they they will occur during a short test. With an implantable loop recorder, your heart rhythm can be monitored for months or even years. This allows your doctor to check whether there is a link between your symptoms and a heart rhythm problem.
How does a loop recorder work?
The loop recorder is placed under the skin, usually on the left side of the chest. The device records your heart rhythm continuously and automatically stores abnormal rhythms in its memory. You can also record an event yourself by activating the device when you feel symptoms. Depending on the device, you can do this using a remote control or an app.
The stored data is reviewed at set times in the hospital or sent via telemonitoring. Based on this information, your doctor can make a diagnosis and, if necessary, start treatment.
What happens during the implantation?
Before the procedure, you will be given an explanation and your doctor will check whether you need to temporarily adjust any medication. Sometimes a blood test is done beforehand.
The implantation itself is usually done during a day hospitalisation. The skin on your chest is numbed with local anaesthetic. The doctor makes a small cut in the skin and slides the loop recorder under the skin.
How long does a loop recorder stay in place?
The battery of an implantable loop recorder usually lasts several years. Your doctor will follow up the recordings and decide when enough information has been collected.