Procedure

Implantable Cardiac Monitors

Implantable Cardiac Monitors (ICMs) are devices placed under the skin to keep track of the electrical activity of your heart.

Introduction

What is an implantable cardiac monitor?

An implantable loop recorder (ILR) is a device that records the electrical activity of your heart. It is a very small wireless monitor that is implanted just beneath the skin on your chest.

This device will automatically record the electrical signals of your heart and will transmit them to a central monitoring station, allowing your doctor to review all the information necessary to diagnose episodes and develop a treatment plan. A loop recorder may be implanted if you have conditions such as:

  • Fainting
  • Heart palpitations
  • Arrhythmia
  • Very fast or slow heartbeats
  • Unexplained falls
  • Possible hidden heart rhythm problems that can cause strokes

For more info, we recommend reviewing the following resources:

Pre-Op

Preparing for your procedure

2 - 3 days before your procedure, you will receive an email containing a link to your patient portal, where you can complete a pre-op questionnaire.

Please be sure to complete this important document before you arrive at the facility.

24-48 hours before your procedure, expect a call from the center to discuss details of your upcoming procedure. In this call, we'll discuss details of your procedure like arrival times, approved medications, and other important information. If your procedure is scheduled for a Monday, a member of our team will contact you on Thursday or Friday.

Be sure to ask your doctor any questions or clarify any concerns you may have.

Inform the doctor of your allergies, and also, inform the provider if you have any kidney or bleeding disorders.

Take your prescribed medications unless directed otherwise by your doctor.

Three hours before your procedure, do not eat or drink aside from small sips of water to take medications approved during your call with the center.

If sedation is planned, please note that you will not be allowed to drive yourself home after the procedure so ensure you have made plans for a responsible party to drive you to and from the center on the day of your procedure.

Day of your procedure

Arrive at the designated time discussed in your pre-op phone call — typically, one hour before your scheduled procedure time.

The center is located at 1615 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in Deltona, FL. On our Directions page, we have common routes and printable directions.

For your comfort and the safety of others, please be advised that only one family member or adult is allowed to accompany you.

Please refrain from smoking!

What to wear

  • Please wear loose, comfortable clothing with a button-front shirt.
  • Please wear your glasses, hearing aids, and dentures.
  • Please be sure to remove body piercings and jewelry.

What to bring

  • Insurance cards
  • Photo identification
  • All current medications

Take your blood pressure medications and any other meds your doctor approved to take the morning of your procedure with a small sip of water.

If you have diabetes, please check your blood sugar before coming to our facility.

Please be prepared to stay for at least 1 hour at the center for your procedure and recovery.

Before your procedure ("Pre-Op")

Our team will be available to answer any questions you have. We'll provide consent forms for your review and signature before heading into your private room to help you change into a surgical gown.

The preferred site for your procedure will be cleaned and prepared by our team of nurses.

After you're prepped for the procedure, your driver can stay with you until the procedure begins.

Your physician will greet you before the procedure, and you will be able to ask any further questions for clarification.

Pre-Op

During your procedure

Our highly skilled team is here to make sure you're comfortable and will be in communication with you throughout the entire procedure to make sure you are safe and comfortable.

During the procedure, you'll be resting on a stretcher in our relaxing private patient room.

Your family member will be able to monitor your progress from the waiting room using our confidential patient tracker.

Post-Op

After your procedure

After the procedure, you'll remain in your private room, where one of your family members may join you.

Your physician will discuss the results of the procedure and the course of treatment, if applicable.

Recovery time is typically 30 minutes.

Be sure to report any swelling, pain, or bleeding at the puncture site or if you experience any chest pain.

We'll provide you with written instructions on what to do at home as you recover.

  • You may take off the clear dressing and gauze pad or bandage as directed by your physician.
  • Leave the SteriStrips (small white tape-like bandages) in place until they fall off on their own or until we instruct you to remove them
  • Keep the insertion site clean and dry
  • Notify the physician of any signs of infection (redness, oozing, swelling, or fever) or any excessive bleeding.
  • You must have a follow-up appointment in 7-10 days to check your surgical site. You will also need to come to this appointment to see if programming adjustments need to be made.
  • Please connect the home monitor as soon as you get home.
  • You should receive a permanent ID card in the mail in approximately 2 weeks.
  • For technical questions about the monitor please call the company's number on your card.
  • If you smoke, talk to your provider about quitting. Please do not smoke for 24 hours