Table 1.

Preferred surgical treatment and necessary echocardiographic information according to Carpentiers' classification of primary mitral regurgitation, with representative cases for each type by transoesophageal echocardiography.

Carpentiers' type	Examples	Surgical treatment	Echocardiographic information
Type 1	Annulus dilation, Leaflet perforation or cleft	Annuloplasty	- Annulus dimensions (to confirm its dilation as mechanism of MR)
Normal leaflet motion		Pericardial patch repair	- Tricuspid annulus measure (prediction of residual functional TR)
Type 2	Chordal rupture	Gortex neo-chordae	- Accurately identify the scallops involved in the prolapse (multiplanar TEE)
MV prolapse	Chordal elongation	Chordal transfer	- Coaptation-septum distance and
	Papillary rupture	Triangular resection	Length of PL (to avoid post-operative SAM)
		Quadrangular resection Resection and sliding plasty (recommended if PL >2 cm)	- LV dimensions and EF
Type 3 Restricted leaflet motion	Restricted leaflet opening Commissural or chordal fusion Leaflet thickening Leaflet calcification	Chordal division	Identify affected chorda/ae Coaptation depth Tenting area
	Restricted leaflet closure Chordal thickening Chordal shortening	Annuloplasty	EROA

EF, ejection fraction; EROA, effective regurgitant orifice area; LV, left ventricular; MR, mitral regurgitation; PL, posterior leaflet; TEE, transesophageal echocardiography; TR, tricuspid regurgitation.