Loop Recorder Pros and Cons

An ILR, or implantable loop recorder, is a heart-monitoring device that is implanted beneath the chest skin. It has a variety of applications. The most common ones involve determining the cause of fainting, palpitations, extremely fast or very slow heartbeats, and hidden rhythms that can result in strokes. 

A loop recorder is implanted during a minor surgery performed by your heart healthcare provider (cardiologist). A cardiologist will implant the small device beneath your skin, on the chest wall, just above the heart. The machine functions similarly to an electrocardiogram (ECG), constantly collecting electrical signals from the heart. This can aid in the detection of irregular heart rhythms that can lead to a variety of issues, including fainting.

In normal conditions, a specific group of cells initiates the electrical signal that initiates your heartbeat. These cells are found in the sinoatrial (SA) node of the heart. This node is located in the right atrium of your heart, which is the upper right chamber of your heart. The signal swiftly passes down the conducting system of your heart to the ventricles. This is the lower part of your heart, known as the ventricles.  The signal causes nearby areas of your heart to contract as it travels. 

This assists the heart in pumping blood in a synchronized manner. Heart rhythm issues may occur if this signaling system is disrupted. 

These can lead to a variety of issues, including syncope and arrhythmia. An irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) may prevent your heart from pumping enough blood. Your brain's blood flow is decreased causing you to faint. Normally, once the rhythm gets back to normal you recover completely.

Loop Recorder Pros:

An implantable loop recorder can capture information, especially brief or uncommon, which can be missed in the Standard Electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. For instance, if you're experiencing fainting spells, your cardiologist will want to identify if your symptoms are being caused by an issue with your heart or not. Your heartbeat is only recorded for a few seconds or minutes with a typical ECG. 

An implantable loop recorder keeps track of your heartbeat for a longer period of time, increasing the likelihood to detect any abnormal heart rhythm if you faint again. Implantable loop recorder information can assist your cardiologist in confirming your diagnosis and developing your treatment plan. Additionally, if you have a high risk of stroke, your doctor may recommend an implantable loop recorder. Stroke risk is increased by some arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation.

Loop Recorder Cons:

When it comes to loop recorders, the biggest downside is the high upfront costs involved. In the case of implantable recorders, some people may be slightly uncomfortable because of the need for a surgical operation to attach the recorder.

Implantable Loop Recorder and Flying:

If you have an implantable loop recorder and are planning to fly, there are certain general precautions you should take. Here are a few advices:

Always keep a copy of your device identification card with you.

Before traveling through the metal detector or full-body scanning at the airport, let the security staff know that you have an implantable device.

Inform the security officials that you have an implantable device if you are chosen for additional screening, and ask for a pat-down search rather than a hand-held metal detector.

You can ask for a visual assessment of your device if you have worries about how the full-body or metal detectors will affect it.

For patients with implantable devices, flying, including transiting through airports, is generally regarded as safe.