Methods: A total of 536 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting from June 2001 to November 2003 were reviewed; 105 of these patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus at the time of surgery. Complete arterial revascularization was achieved 46.7% of the diabetic patients. Hospital mortality and morbidity were compared as the primary outcomes.

Results: Female gender, hypertension, obesity and carotid artery disease were more prevalent in the diabetic group. Diabetic patients were also had lower ejection fraction. Mean distal anastomosis number (p = 0.013), concomitant left ventricular aneurysm repair (p = 0.05), aortic cross-clamp time (p = 0.002), cardiopulmonary bypass time (p = 0.01) and need of inotropic support (p = 0.024) were significantly higher in the diabetic group than the non-diabetic group. No significant differences were found between two groups regarding the early mortality; 2.9% in diabetics and 3 % in non diabetics (p = 1.00).

Conclusion: Although need of inotropic support is higher in diabetics, our results indicate that coronary artery bypass grafting in diabetic patients is not associated with higher early mortality.