| Abstract: | The results of surgery for occlusive coronary artery disease were studied in 600 consecutive, unselected patients who underwent aortocoronary bypass grafting between Jan. 1, 1977 and Dec. 31, 1982. Forty (7%) of these patients had diabetes mellitus, requiring medication. Sixteen of the 40 patients were insulin-dependent, the remainder required oral hypoglycemic agents. The frequency of previous myocardial infarction, hypertension and peripheral vascular disease in the groups of nondiabetic and diabetic patients was 38% and 62.5%, 12% and 22.5%, and 10.5% and 25% respectively. There was no significant difference in the rate of unstable angina, triple-vessel disease, emergency surgery, left ventricular dysfunction, myocardial infarction perioperatively and hospital morbidity or mortality in the two groups. On coronary angiography, 82% of coronary arteries in diabetic patients were graded as being small or moderate in size (less than 2 mm in diameter); at operation, 62% of these arteries were found to be 2 mm or more in diameter. At a mean follow-up of 3.9 years and 3.7 years in the nondiabetic and diabetic patients respectively (range from 1 to 6 years), no significant difference was noted with regard to relief of symptoms or survival in the two groups. It is concluded that diabetic patients with coronary artery disease can be offered bypass surgery with good short-term and medium-term results. |
