The insertion is performed in hospital under local anaesthetic with or without sedation medication. The procedure takes approximately 15-20 minutes and is performed in the cardiac catheter laboratory with a patient table, X-Ray tube and ECG monitoring.

ECG monitoring electrodes will be attached to your chest area. The left chest area is painted with a antiseptic solution that may feel cold. You will be covered by a large sterile sheet that will partly cover your face. You will be given oxygen to breathe by a small tube that is positioned under your nostrils or by a mask that covers your face.

A small ~2cm cut is made in the chest wall and the device is inserted via the cut and the wound is then closed with dissolvable sutures. A small scar will be visible initially but will fade with time. After the procedure you will have some bruising and discomfort in the area of the implantable loop recorder that may persist for several weeks.

You will be allowed to go home on the day of the procedure after a few hours once the sedation has worn off. You will be given an appointment in our pacing clinic approximately one month after the implant.

A sterile dressing is left over the loop recorder for 6 days. The dressing is waterproof and you can shower with it on. You can carefully remove this dressing yourself on the 6th day after the procedure. At this stage the wound is sufficiently healed to allow you to shower with the dressing removed.

This bruising can create a bluish discolouration over the upper chest and arm. Usually the discomfort and swelling from the wound settles gradually over several weeks. If the wound becomes tender, reddened and swollen, please contact us.

You should avoid strenuous activities or lifting the arm above your head for a period of 4 weeks. You should not drive for 2 weeks.