title: Comparison of semi-continuous and interrupted suture techniques for mitral valve replacement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of semi-continuous technique and interrupted suture technique for mitral valve replacement in early post-operative period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The randomised prospective study was conducted at Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi Institute of Cardiology, Multan, Pakistan, from December 2012 to December 2014 The patients were divided into two equal groups: Group I patients underwent semi-continuous technique for mitral valve replacement, and Group II underwent interrupted technique. Data was analysed using SPSS 16.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 100 patients were divided into two equal groups of 50(50%) each. There was no significant difference in terms of age, gender and pre-operative echocardiographic characteristics (p>0.05 each). Total bypass and cross-clamp times were significantly higher in Group II (p<0.0001 and p<0.0001). The incidence of peri-prosthetic leakage was low in Group II compared to Group I but it was not significantly different (p=0.64).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Semi-continuous technique was found to be a safe and reliable method of mitral valve replacement.
authors.affiliation: Sheikh Zayed Medical College and Hospital, Rahim Yaar Khan, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Hammad
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Azam
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Department, Multan, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ghulam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Department, Multan, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Naseem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Perfusion Department, CPE Institute of Cardiology, Multan, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mirza Ahmad
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Raza Baig
authors.affiliation: Civil Hospital Multan, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaheer
authors.affiliation: Perfusion Department, CPE Institute of Cardiology, Multan, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syed Raffay
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ali Gilani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D061646:Operative Time; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Mitral valve prosthesis, Mitral valve surgery.