Are diabetic patients in danger at renal transplantation? An invasive perioperative study

It is assumed that diabetic patients with uraemia have more complications a t renal transplantation than those who are not diabetic. We compared the pr eoperative ECGs, and invasive perioperative haemodynamic and oxygenation pa rameters in 15 diabetic and 15 non-diabetic uraemic patients undergoing ren al transplantation. The number of patients with increased QT dispersion in the ECG was higher in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients (P < 0.05). Be fore anaesthesia, heart rate and mean arterial pressure were higher (P < 0. 05) in the diabetic than in the non-diabetic group. After preanaesthetic vo lume loading all patients showed a hyperdynamic circulation, which subsided during anaesthesia. However, stroke volume index remained unchanged. Four patients in the diabetic group and six in the non-diabetic group needed add itional oxygen therapy after surgery. No cardiac dysrhythmias were noted. H owever, the increased QT dispersion in diabetic patients calls for an adequ ate perioperative ECG monitoring for dysrhythmias. The diabetic and non-dia betic uraemic patients performed equally well at renal transplantation. In conclusion, renal transplantation for diabetics is justified.