Hypothesis: A number of preoperative factors, including diabetes mellitus (DM), have been cited as increasing risk in patients undergoing major vascular operations. In smaller studies at our institution we have not found this to be apparent. This study reviewed all major vascular operations to confirm our bias that DM is not associated with increased mortality or cardiac morbidity. Design: Case series retrospectively reviewed from a vascular registry established in 1990. Setting: Tertiary care

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... enter. Patients: Consecutive sample of 6565 patients who underwent lower extremity revascularization or carotid or aortic procedures, grouped by presence or absence of DM. Main Outcome Measures: Postoperative mortality, congestive heart failure, or myocardial infarction. Results: Patients with DM made up 62.3% of the population, and those without diabetes, 37.7%.