Advanced Heart Monitoring for Symptoms That Don’t Happen Every Day 

Heart rhythm problems, also called cardiac arrhythmias, can happen without warning. You may feel fluttering, pounding or skipped beats that don’t occur every day. When symptoms are occasional and hard to track, your electrophysiologist may recommend a loop recorder. 

A loop recorder is a small type of cardiac monitor implanted under the skin for continuous heart monitoring — tracking your heart’s rhythm over time. 

At Keck Medicine of USC, our cardiac specialists work as a team to help uncover the cause of your symptoms and guide your care with clarity, compassion and expertise. 

Who Can Benefit from a Loop Recorder 

A loop recorder often helps when symptoms come and go and other tests do not catch the rhythm at the right moment. Your doctor may suggest this option if you have symptoms of serious arrhythmia, such as: 

• Chest discomfort with a normal initial workup 
• Fast or uneven heartbeat 
• Short episodes that happen only once in a while 
• Slow rhythms from conduction disorders, such as heart block 
• Syncope and fainting or near-faint episodes 
• Unexplained dizziness 

Preparing for a Loop Recorder Implantation 

You typically don’t need special preparation before loop recorder implantation. The device is placed during a minor procedure and doesn’t require external wires or patches on your body.  

How Loop Recorder Implantation Works 

Loop recorder implantation is a minor procedure that a specialist may perform in a medical office or medical center. You’ll be awake, and the care team may give you medication to help you relax. 

Your care team numbs a small area of the chest, makes a tiny incision (cut), places the device under the skin and then closes the incision. The loop recorder can remain in place for up to three years to constantly monitor your heart rhythm. 

Recovery and Care After Loop Recorder Implantation 

You may need to avoid some activities until the wound heals. You’ll also want to watch your skin for symptoms of infection, including: 

• Changes in skin color 
• Swelling 
• Warmth or redness around the incision 

After the procedure, your doctor will give you a transmitter to put next to your bed. It will automatically send information from the recorder to your doctor while you’re asleep. You can also push the device’s button to send the information right away if you have symptoms.  

Other Things to Know About Your Loop Recorder 

• Many devices send updates automatically through a bedside transmitter, phone or app. 
• Most people return to normal routines soon after the incision heals, including bathing and swimming. 
• The device can stay in place for up to three years, and your team can remove it with a short in-office procedure. 
• You may have follow-up visits once or twice a year while the device stays in place. 
• Your care team may ask you to keep a record of your symptoms so we can match how you felt with what the device records. 
• Your care team will review the recordings and discuss results with you. 

What Happens If the Recorder Finds a Rhythm Problem

Your results from the loop recorder help your team choose the right treatment approach. Your plan depends on what the device shows, how often your symptoms occur and your overall heart health. Your specialist will talk with you about next steps, including: 

• An electrophysiology (EP) study to identify where the rhythm problem starts 
• Catheter ablation if symptoms continue even after medication 
• EP mapping procedures to pinpoint the exact source, when needed 
• Medication updates and lifestyle changes to support your health 
• Recommendations for further care and consideration of either pacemaker or ICD placement