Breakthrough in Cardiology: ILR — a Miniature Heart Rhythm Recorder — Installed for the First Time in Israel

The Clalit Health Services medical center in Beit Shemesh has achieved a breakthrough in Israeli cardiology, successfully performing the implantation of the miniature ILR heart implant for the first time outside of a hospital – specifically, at an outpatient medical center.

The procedure was conducted on two patients from the Clalit Jerusalem District at the clinic’s branch located in the BIG shopping center in Beit Shemesh. The operation was carried out by specialists from the Electrophysiology Unit at Kaplan Medical Center as part of a program to expand access to specialized medical care in local communities, allowing patients to receive advanced procedures closer to home.

This procedure is similar to the one previously performed on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before his pacemaker implantation. Such advanced technologies are now becoming more accessible to all patients.

The ILR (Implantable Loop Recorder) is a miniature cardiac activity recorder designed for continuous and long-term monitoring of the heart rhythm. It aids in diagnosing abnormalities that cannot be detected with standard tests—such as an ECG or Holter monitoring—and is also used to determine the causes of recurrent fainting spells, dizziness, and general malaise.

The miniature device is implanted under the skin through a small incision using local anesthesia. Performing the procedure outside of an inpatient setting avoids the need for hospitalization, reduces waiting times, and makes diagnostics more accessible to patients.