"Swedish band"
The "Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band" (SAGB) adheres to the same functional principles as the LAP-band. It was used for the first time in 1984 in Sweden and was implanted openly by vertical gastroplasty (see Vertical Gastroplasty). The band is wider and has a larger fill volume; however, the additional volume should not be filled with more than 8.5ml liquid. The stoma diameter ranges from 0 to 30mm, a wider range than that of an LAP-band, which can be advantageous. At larger fill volumes it works as a "vacuum system," thus making the precise adjustment of the stoma diameter somewhat easier. Due to its width, texture, and closing mechanism, the Swedish band is not as comfortable as the "Kuzmak band," while the surgical techniques differ only slightly. Documented studies have been conducted proving the effectiveness of both bands.