Implantable loop recorders are fast becoming a valuable and reliable resource for monitoring and diagnosing cardiovascular disorders.
From 2016 to 2024, the use of implantable loop recorders is expected to grow 7.1%, as more cardiologists rely upon these devices, according to data gathered by Transparency Market Research.
The highly skilled physicians at our Heart Rhythm Center at Lakeland Regional Health implant about 35 to 40 loop recorders each year.
An implantable loop recorder is a heart-monitoring device that records your heart’s signals. It is a very tiny device inserted just beneath the skin of the chest.
The benefit of an implanted device is that it can monitor your heart for the long term. An electrocardiogram monitor or take-home monitor captures information for only a limited amount of time. Often, heart rhythm abnormalities that occur infrequently can be missed.
Implantable loop recorders are one of the newer heart-monitoring devices, with more than 10 years of proven safety and benefit to patients. According to Mayo Clinic, a study of 579 people with fainting spells showed that implantable loop recorders had a higher rate of diagnosis of heart rhythm problems than did other monitoring devices.
“Loop recorder implants have become especially helpful when a patient is fainting or passing out,” said Kevin F. Browne, Jr., MD, FACC, Electrophysiologist and Interventional Cardiologist. “Diagnosing the cause, particularly when the symptoms are recognized early, often allows us to effectively treat the patient before the problem escalates.”
To implant a loop recorder, patients undergo a minor surgical procedure usually performed in an outpatient setting with a local anesthetic. A small incision is made and closed. The device can stay in place for up to three years.
“More often than not, we are finding that implanted loop recorders are giving us the critical data we need to make life-saving diagnoses,” said Philip S. Owen, MD, FACC, FRCP(C), Interventional Cardiologist.
“These devices can report immediate results to us remotely, so our team knows right away if timely intervention is needed,” said Neal G. Kavesh, MD, FACC, Electrophysiologist/Invasive Cardiologist and Co-Director of the Heart Rhythm Center.
“The experienced physicians of our Heart Center are leaders in providing this less-invasive and vital care to our community,” said Jeffrey L. Williams, MD, FACC, Electrophysiologist/Cardiologist and Co-Director of the Heart Rhythm Center. “Our cardiac care teams deliver the best outcomes and safest care by placing our patients and their families at the heart of all we do.”