title: Drug-eluting stents versus coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with diabetes mellitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reduction of restenosis and reinterventions was recently reported with percutaneous interventions (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (Cypher). This study compares results of Cypher (Cordis, Miami Lakes, FL) stenting and surgical revascularization in diabetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2002 to January 2005, 518 consecutive diabetic patients underwent myocardial revascularization; 176 by PCI incorporating Cyphers and 342 treated surgically. Single-vessel patients in the surgical group were treated with the left internal thoracic artery (ITA) and most multivessel patients were treated with two ITAs. After matching for age, sex, right system revascularization, and extent of coronary disease, two groups (86 patients each) were used to compare the two revascularization modalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups were similar; however, left main, poor ejection fraction, total occlusion, and bifurcation lesions were more prevalent in the surgical group, and in-stent restenosis in the PCI group. The mean number of coronary vessels treated was higher in the surgical group (2.05 vs 1.6, p < 0.001). Mean follow-up was 18 months. Overall mortality (early and late) was 2.3% and 3.5% in the Cypher and surgical groups, respectively (p = 0.65). Angina returned in 39.5% of the Cypher group and 15.1% of the surgical group, p < 0.001. There were 25 reinterventions in the Cypher group compared with five in the surgical group (p = 0.010). The Cox proportional hazard model revealed assignment to the Cypher group to be the only independent predictor of reangina (odds ratio [OR] 3.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.63 to 6.53) and reintervention (OR 4.17, 95% CI 1.92 to 20.83).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite improved results of PCI with Cyphers, midterm clinical outcome of diabetic patients treated surgically is better.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiologu, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Yanai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ben-Gal
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Moshkovitz
authors.forename: Nachum
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nesher
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Uretzky
authors.forename: Rony
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Braunstein
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hendler
authors.forename: Einat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zivi
authors.forename: Itzhak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Herz
authors.forename: Rephael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mohr
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007387:Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis; D008297:Male; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome