"Lap bands" is the commonly used term for the medical devices used in laparoscopic gastric banding. The Columbia University Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery notes that such bands cause weight loss by reducing stomach capacity and slowing digestive processes. It also notes that results vary by patient and by the type of lap band chosen for the surgery. Understanding the different types of lap bands can help patients to choose the most effective option.
Swedish Band
The Swedish band is the shortened term for the Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band, designed and patented by Dag Hallberg. Hallberg is credited with being the inventor of the gastric banding procedure, according to GastricSurgery.com, and his band was actually the first of the laparoscopic bands to be designed and manufactured. "Obesity Surgery" notes that it was approved for use in European patients in 1985, later was approved in the United States.
The Swedish Band is characterized by a balloon that covers the inner lining of the band. It is one of the most adjustable bands on the market. Researchers reported upon in "Obesity Surgery" have found that it can be used with few adverse effects.
LAP-Band
LAP-Band is the brand name for what is also known as the American band, according to GastricSurgery.com. The American band differs from the Swedish band by being shorter and not having as wide of a range of adjustability. LapBand.us notes that it was approved by the FDA in June of 2001, though the surgical tool was first used in 1993. It can be put in place in about 40 minutes, and like other bands, is adjustable and removable.
Mid-Band
The Mid-Band was introduced after the other bands, being introduced in Europe in 2000, according to "Obesity Surgery." GastricSurgery.com credits the Mid-Band with being more flexible than other bands, as "Obesity Surgery" reports that it is made of silicone. Due to its flexibility, Mid-Bands are reported to be easier to fit to patient stomachs, according to GastricSurgery.com.
References
- Columbia University Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery: Gastric Bypass
- GastricSurgery.eu: Understanding the Different Types of Adjustable Gastric Bands
- LapBand.us: Guide to Lap Band Surgery
- Obesity Surgery: Preliminary Results of the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding Procedure
- Obesity Surgery: The Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band
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