[Patient with diabetes and chronic ischemic heart disease. Myocardial revascularization, how to do it?]

Abstract

Diabetes is one of the reasons for major concerns when managing patients with acute or chronic ischemic heart disease. The presence of diabetes poses specific issues with respect to outcome and treatment options, leading to worse prognosis. The role of myocardial revascularization in the management of chronic ischemic heart disease is a matter of debate, largely due to some clinical studies that failed to demonstrate it's superiority. Following the BARI-2D trial, coronary artery bypass surgery has gained some advantage over coronary angioplasty in diabetic patients with multivessel disease. This advantage was recently consolidated in the FREEDOM trial, which showed significantly better outcomes at five year follow up.