title: The influence of diabetes mellitus on early outcome following carotid endarterectomy.
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.
authors.affiliation: University of Pretoria. thanyani.mulaudzi@up.ac.za.
authors.forename: Thanyani Victor
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Mulaudzi
authors.forename: John V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Robbs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000150:complications*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome