ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Morbidly obese patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery are at risk for postoperative venous thromboembolism. Evidence-based recommendations regarding the dosing and duration of thromboprophylaxis are lacking for morbidly obese surgical patients. The aims of this study were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an extended duration, body mass index (BMI)-stratified enoxaparin thromboprophylaxis regimen in patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and to determine the resultant antifactor Xa (AFXa) activity in morbidly obese surgical patients. METHODS: In this prospective open trial, 223 patients (75% female, mean BMI 50.4 kg/m2) undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass were assigned to receive enoxaparin 40 mg (BMI