[Diabetes mellitus and coronary artery bypass surgery]

To determine the influence of diabetes mellitus on the results of coronary artery bypass surgery, a review of 163 diabetic patients operated on during 8 years, of whom 146 were receiving no drugs or receiving oral hypoglycemic agents, and 17 were receiving insulin. They were compared with 337 nondiabetic patients operated on over the same period. Higher incidences of hypertension and cerebrovascular disease for the diabetic group were found. The extent of coronary artery disease as judged angiographically was significantly greater in the diabetic group than in the nondiabetic group. Perioperative mortality was similar in the two groups. The incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction, sternotomy complication, neurological complication, and renal insufficiency was equal in the two groups. Early graft patency was comparable in the two groups. Overall 8-year actuarial angina free ratios were 88.5% for the diabetic group, 93.2% for the nondiabetic group. Overall 8-year survival rates were 95.6% for the diabetic group, 98.6% for the nondiabetic group. Results indicate that diabetic patients have quantitatively more coronary artery disease than the non-diabetic patients but have no higher perioperative morbidity and mortality than nondiabetic patients. Long-term results revealed a lower angina free rate in diabetic patients than in nondiabetic patients.