CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY AND CORONARY-ARTERY BYPASS GRAFTS IN DIABETICS

Angiographic data and findings at operation in 118 diabetics undergoin g coronary artery bypass graft have been compared with those from 98 n on-diabetic patients matched for sex and age. Atherosclerosis in the e picardial arteries in diabetics is more severe than in the general pop ulation. Saphenous vein grafting and internal mammary artery anastomos es are hampered by the fragility, irregularity, calcification and thic kening as well as extensive atherosclerotic plaques in diabetic vessel s. However, post-operative mortality and morbidity are no higher in di abetics and the length of hospitalisation is comparable with those of non-diabetics undergoing these procedures.