Enrollment stopped, patients refuse to participate.

Prophylactic use of tranexamic acid to reduce intra and postoperative bleeding in primary sleeve gastrectomy procedures will be studied.

Patients scheduled for primary laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for the treatment of morbid obesity will be assigned to receive tranexamic acid vs. placebo before surgery. Intraoperative bleeding will be scored, as well as postoperative bleeding and blood or blood-product requirements. POstoperative venous thromboembolic events will be recorded up to 2 months following surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Morbid obesity
• Approved and scheduled for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous bariatric surgery
• Platelet count under 100,000
• Concurrent anticoagulation treatment
• Previous venous/atrerial thromboembolic event
• Known allergy to tranexamic acid
• History of heparin induced thrombocytopenia
• Oral contraceptive use
• Female hormonal replacement therapy
• Active thromboembolic state
• Genetic hypercoagulable state