[Coronary artery disease and the results of coronary bypass surgery in diabetics].

To evaluate the influence of diabetes mellitus on coronary artery disease and the results of coronary bypass surgery, a review was made of 63 consecutive patients undergoing isolated saphenous vein aortocoronary bypass, of whom 38 patients (G-1) were nondiabetic, 9 patients (G-2) had impaired glucose tolerance, and 16 patients (G-3) were diabetic. The severity of coronary artery disease was assessed using an angiographic grading system. Among three patient groups, there was no difference in total coronary score per patient reflecting total extent of disease (G-1; 15.7 +/- 5.5, G-2; 14.1 +/- 5.9, G-3; 17.1 +/- 6.3, mean +/- S.D.) and the incidence of diffusely diseased vessels. The mean number of diseased vessels (greater than 50% stenosis) per patient was 2.5 +/- 0.6 in G-1, 2.6 +/- 0.7 in G-2, and 2.5 +/- 0.7 in G-3, and the mean number of bypass grafts per patient was 2.3 +/- 0.9, 2.2 +/- 0.9, and 2.1 +/- 0.7, respectively. Coronary luminal diameters and the severity of atherosclerotic changes of coronary arteries at the site of graft anastomosis, studied intraoperatively, were similar in all groups. Vein graft blood flows and early graft patency in diabetics (112 +/- 55 ml/min, 96.9%, respectively) were also similarly good as those in the other groups (98 +/- 49 ml/min, 91.4% in G-1, and 92 +/- 39 ml/min, 94.1% in G-2). Overall hospital mortality was 1.6% (one of 63). The only death from meningoencephalitis occurred in the diabetic group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)