Implantable Loop Recorder (ILR)

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An implantable loop recorder (ILR) is about the size of one AA battery or a house key. Placed just under the skin in the chest, it can record heart rhythms continuously for years.

Long-term heart rhythm monitoring can capture information about abnormalities that happen only infrequently. A standard electrocardiogram, Holter monitor or other event monitors are active only for a few minutes up to about a week.

If your child has fainting episodes or heart palpitations and other tests haven’t identified a cause, your child’s cardiologist at Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, may consider this device to capture more information. The data is transmitted wirelessly to Norton Children’s Heart Institute, where it can be evaluated.

What Happens After a Loop Recording?

The loop recorder sends its data wirelessly to the specialists at Norton Children’s Heart Institute for evaluation. Your child’s cardiologist will evaluate the heart rhythms received. Your pediatric cardiologist will then meet with you to discuss the results. Some children are found to have nothing wrong with their heart rhythm. Others may need medications or even need to consider a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator to address an arrhythmia and restore normal heart rhythm.

A loop recorder is one of many tools the board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians at Norton Children’s Heart Institute may use to determine a precise diagnosis of your child’s heart issue.

With sophisticated diagnostic tools, Norton Children’s physicians will use their experience and training to develop a treatment plan tailored to your child.

Norton Children’s Heart Institute is the leading provider of pediatric heart care in Louisville and Southern Indiana.

Norton Children’s has a network of outreach diagnostic and treatment services conveniently located throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

Preparing Your Child for Loop Recorder Implantation

The implantation is a minor surgical procedure. Talk with your child’s doctor about what you should do beforehand.

If your child is sedated (asleep) for the procedure, a specially trained pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist will stay with your child while they are asleep.

Your child may not be able to eat or drink anything the night before the procedure. Don’t stop giving your child his or her regular medicines unless your child’s doctor tells you to stop.[templatera id=”189392″]

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