Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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Introduction
The Insertable Cardiac Monitor is about 45.1mm long and is inserted under your skin. While you go about your daily activities the heart monitor continuously observes your heart’s electrical activity and records heart data based on settings programmed by the cardiac physiologist. Your doctor can use the recording to help monitor, diagnose and manage any heart rhythm disturbances (called arrhythmia) and their relationship to possible symptoms. Your symptoms may include syncope (fainting), light-headedness, dizziness and palpitations. Disturbances in your heart’s rhythm or some other health issue may be causing your symptoms.
Without an insertable cardiac monitor, monitoring and diagnosing your symptoms may be difficult because symptoms often occur while you go about your daily life rather than while you are visiting your doctor or undergoing special tests. With an insertable cardiac monitor, it is often easier for your doctor to manage your symptoms or condition. The data stored in the heart monitor helps your doctor:
- determine whether your symptoms are related to your heart’s rhythm or something else.
- monitor any heart rhythm disturbances.
What to expect on the day of the procedure
Eating and drinking
If you are asked to come into hospital early in the morning, have a light breakfast of tea and toast or cereal. If your procedure is scheduled for the afternoon, have a light lunch. You may continue to drink water up until your procedure.
Medication
Take your morning tablets as usual, unless instructed not to.
If you are taking warfarin, please have your INR checked 3 days prior to your procedure, aiming for an INR less than 2.5. If you take warfarin for a metal valve, then specific advice will have been given to you when the procedure was booked. Please call the Interventional Suite on 0300 6139572 or the Arrhythmia Nurse on 0300 6132641 with your results.
If you take aspirin or clopidogrel or any other blood thinning medication, please contact the Cardiology Appointments Team on 0300 6133344.
General advice
Avoid bringing any valuables or cash as they may be left unattended while you are undergoing your procedure.
Please remember reading glasses if required.
You should report to: The Cardiac Interventional Suite
The procedure
Your procedure will take about 20 minutes, and you will then be monitored for about 30 minutes afterwards.
When you come to the Interventional Suite, staff will check your details, put a name band on your wrist and leg, and ask you to put on a gown. Your observations will then be checked including blood pressure, pulse rate and respiratory rate. A small tube called a cannula will be inserted into your vein.
The insertable cardiac monitor is inserted just beneath the skin of the chest. During the brief procedure, the area is numbed with a local anaesthetic, a small insertion is made, and the insertable cardiac monitor is injected. You will be awake and able to communicate during the procedure. You may feel some pressure as the device is inserted.
The Insertable Cardiac Monitor is inserted just under the skin there is a slight risk of infection, bruise and/or sensitivity to the device material.
After the procedure at first there may be some minor discomfort near the incision site. In general, people who get an insertable cardiac monitor can perform almost all their normal activities.
Visitors
The Cardiac Interventional Suite team aims to ensure that patients have their dignity and confidentiality always respected.
Due to the lack of space and layout of the Cardiac Interventional Suite, it is not possible for relatives / carers to stay with the patient during their stay.
However, exceptions can be made if the nurse in charge considers it appropriate for the carer to stay with the patient for the duration of their stay.
Relatives / carers may telephone the Cardiac Interventional Suite on 0300 6139572 / 0300 6133329.
Going home from hospital
You will be able to drive following your procedure. You do not need to be escorted by an adult, but we would advise you to arrange someone to accompany you should you think it necessary.
Avoid any heavy lifting or vigorous activity for up to a week after your procedure. Avoid getting the area wet for up to one week following your procedure.
The area of the device being inserted may feel uncomfortable or sore for a week after the procedure. You may experience bruising, but this should return to normal within 2 to 3 weeks.
Contact your GP immediately if you notice signs of infection, such as:
- redness
- swelling
- skin hot to touch at the site of your implant
- rise in body temperature
Ongoing care
You may be able to feel the insertable cardiac monitor but please do not ‘fiddle’ with or move the device. It may feel strange but don’t worry, it will not pop out.
Your device follow up will be by a remote monitor. This can be an app on your mobile phone or a bedside monitor. Setting this up will be explained on the day of the procedure.
Any recordings made by the insertable cardiac monitor will be sent to a website which is monitored by the cardiac physiologists. If there are any significant findings you will be telephoned and the findings sent to your doctor.
If you have any further questions regarding this procedure after reading this information, please don’t hesitate to contact:
Cardiology Department
- Cardiology Appointments 0300 6133344
- Cardiac Interventional Suite 0300 6139572
- Cardiac Arrhythmia Nurse 0300 6132641
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Cardiology service.
About this information
Service:
Cardiology
Reference:
C/027
Approval date:
7 August 2025
Review date:
1 August 2028
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.