Private implantable loop recorder test

Fitting a loop implant recorder is a minor surgery. Having an implantable loop recorder fitted is a procedure that, in most cases, can be done on an outpatient basis. This means that you won’t need to stay in hospital overnight. The procedure is as follows:

• You’ll be given a local anaesthetic to numb the affected area.
• A tiny incision of around 2mm in length will be made in the skin at the bottom of the breastbone, on the left side of your chest.
• The ILR will then be injected under your skin and the incision will be closed with butterfly stitches, or sometimes surgical stitches. The injection takes only seconds to perform.

You need to keep the wound area dry for a few days until it has healed fully. In most cases, it takes no longer than 20 or 30 minutes to fit an ILR, so you will be able to go home shortly afterwards. There is no need to fast usually before an ILR implant.

Once your ILR implant has been fitted, you’ll be monitored for an hour or so before being discharged. Your blood pressure, pulse, temperature and wound will be checked to make sure it is safe for you to go home. A member of our cardiac physiology team will connect your device to your mobile phone, explain how the remote monitoring system works and answer your questions.

They may give you a transmitting device, which you'll need to put beside your bed when you get home. This is the device that sends the information recorded by your ILR to your doctor if your phone isn’t compatible.

You’ll be informed about how to use the transmitting device before you leave hospital. You’ll be given a follow-up appointment to see an electrophysiologist in the weeks after your ILR is fitted to make sure that it's working properly.

Once you've had loop recorder surgery, recovery takes only a few days. You may find that the site of the incision is bruised for a few days after having your ILR fitted, but this will gradually disappear. 

To help with the recovery process, avoid strenuous activity for a few days, and when your cardiologist says that it’s safe. Also, avoid contact that could impact where the implant was inserted and try not to rub the implant site or the surrounding area.

You may not be able to drive if you have suffered faints or blackouts, or episodes of profound dizziness. Your cardiologist will advise on whether it’s safe for you to drive in those circumstances. Otherwise, once your wound has healed, you’ll be able to do everything that you did before you had the device fitted, including driving. 

However, wait a few days for the wound to heal before you drive or place a seatbelt over the site of your implant. We recommend waiting for at least one to two days. If you find using a seatbelt uncomfortable after this time, you may find it helpful to use some extra padding over the site of the ILR.

Having an ILR fitted is a straightforward procedure and side effects are uncommon. However, some people do experience minor problems such as bleeding or bruising at the site of the wound. In most cases, this is nothing to worry about and these symptoms will disappear within a few weeks. 

If you have had an implantable loop recorder fitted, and once the dressing has been removed, you should check the site every day to make sure that it is healing properly. If the wound looks red, angry or inflamed, appears open, is painful to touch or is oozing yellow or green fluid, then it may be infected. You should contact your GP or cardiac care team immediately and arrange an appointment.

If you experience any of the above symptoms or are worried about your ILR in any way, then contact your treatment team immediately, as you may need further treatment.

Your electrophysiologist will advise you about how long you need to have your ILR implant. It may be just for several weeks or months, but is commonly up to four years.

Your consultant will monitor the information collected by your ILR remotely and feed back information to you regularly.

Once a diagnosis has been made, then your electrophysiologist may decide to remove your ILR. The process of removing an ILR is straightforward. You will be given a local anaesthetic to numb the area, and the ILR will be removed through a small incision.

If you visit a doctor for any kind of medical test, you must tell them that you are fitted with an ILR. MRI scans are best avoided for the first six weeks after having your ILR fitted, but can still be performed if urgent. If you need an MRI after six weeks have passed, you must let the MRI unit know about your implant in advance and you must also tell your Cardiologist so that information on the device can be examined. MRI scans usually wipe data from ILR devices. 

There is no need for any special precautions before having surgery, a general anaesthetic, or any other kind of medical treatment. If you visit your dentist, please tell them you have an ILR before receiving any treatment.

For most people, it’s safe to take part in sports and go to the gym with an ILR. You can even go swimming once the wound has healed. However, you should avoid direct impact on the site of the ILR. Although this is unlikely to damage the device, you might find it uncomfortable. 

If you experienced symptoms before having your implantable loop monitor fitted that prevented you from taking part in sports or physical activities, then it’s important to speak to your cardiologist before trying anything new. 

You’ll be able to travel abroad and fly with an ILR implant fitted although ideally you should attend your follow-up appointment with us before doing so.  

You can go through airport security scanners without a problem but as the ILR is made of metal, it will cause an audible alert in metal detectors. You’ll be given a device identification card which you should carry with you when you’re travelling. This tells security staff that you have an ILR implant fitted and they may choose to use a handheld wand instead or ask you to stand in one of the new types of security scanner.

If you have a bedside monitor, we recommend you take it with you if you plan to travel for more than 2 weeks. They will work anywhere where this is a mobile phone signal, so your heart activity can still be monitored when abroad.