Diabetes and Coronary Artery Surgery

Stents - those little mesh structures inserted in the arteries to keep the flow of blood uninhibited - have been a major innovation in re-establishing blood flow to a damaged heart muscle.  It's simple – just an overnight stay – no more cracking the chest to have open heart surgery.  

A recent study of over 1900 patients with diabetes found that patients who received open heart operations versus stents, however, were 30% less likely to die or suffer a heart attack or stroke within 5 years.  This is significant. It will certainly change choices patients make, as have so many new findings that come across my desk. Even after more than 30 years as a cosmetic surgeon in Florida, I am continually surprised by how much we learn and how much it stands to improve patient outcomes..