Abstract:
BACKGROUND. There are few studies that look at the influence of diabetes mellitus on early outcome following carotid endarterectomy
(CEA). Those available have reported conflicting results, with some showing poor outcome and others similar outcome to those
without diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE. To assess the influence of diabetes mellitus on early outcome following CEA.
METHODS. Clinical data on patients who had CEA over a 5-year period were acquired from a prospectively maintained computerised
database. They were divided into two groups, namely diabetics and non-diabetics.
RESULTS. Two hundred and sixty-four charts were analysed. There were no significant differences in patient demographics and
risk factors for atherosclerosis between the two groups. The majority (71%) of patients had CEA for symptomatic carotid disease.
Carotid shunting was performed selectively, and significantly more diabetic patients had CEA under the protection of a carotid shunt
(p=0.0469). Postoperative strokes, transient ischaemic attacks and deaths were not significantly different between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS. Diabetes mellitus had no influence on the early surgical outcome following carotid endarterectomy.
