Bypass surgery lowers risk of dying by 30pc for diabetics than angioplasty

A new study by Indian origin researcher has suggested that diabetic people have a 30 percent less chance of dying if they undergo coronary artery bypass surgery rather than opening the artery through angioplasty and inserting a stent.

Dr. Subodh Verma, a cardiac surgeon and principal author of the paper, said that although bypass surgery is more invasive than stenting, it is imperative that physicians and patients realize that long term mortality reduction is best achieved with bypass surgery.

Verma and Dr. Jan Friedrich, an intensivist at St. Michael's, decided to conduct a meta-analysis of all existing randomized control trials comparing the two procedures- coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) and the angioplasty.

They also found that while patients with diabetes did better with CABG, the procedures was associated with an increased risk of non-fatal strokes. They said this may be related to the fact the heart has to be stopped during the procedure.

The study is published in the journal Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology.