Loop Recorder

A Loop Recorder is a device implanted under the skin in your upper chest. This procedure is performed in the catheterization laboratory. You will be given a local anesthetic to your chest wall. The procedure usually lasts twenty minutes. Once the procedure is complete, a Medtronic representative will provide education regarding the loop recorder. You will then be discharged home with a scheduled follow-up appointment.

• Why you are having this procedure (symptoms/limitations): If you have experienced an unexpected abrupt loss of consciousness, you are possibly a candidate for this procedure. A loop recorder saves tracings of your heart rhythm if it pauses, beats too slowly, or beats too fast. The loop recorder also records when you signal a symptomatic event. 
• Prep: Nothing to eat or drink after midnight
• Risks: Infection and bleeding
• When to call your cardiologist: If you experience a loss of consciousness or feel your heart racing, or get dizzy to the point where you feel like you are going to pass out. These instructions will be reviewed with you in detail after your procedure.
• After Implant: You will receive equipment which will enable you to mark your symptoms and transmit information from your home. 
• Miscellaneous: The battery can last up to three years.