Circulation Journal Official Journal of the Japanese Circulation Society http://www. j-circ.or.jp and postoperative complications and requirements, have been evaluated as predictors of POAF; however, most of these predictors were not consistent among studies and only advanced age was a consistent predictor. 6 Recently, echocardiographic assessments have achieved much better prediction of POAF by measuring the left atrium-related values including the left atrial volume index (LAVI), LA strain and total atrial conduction time (TACT). Although there are several measurements of TACT, the time interval from the P-wave onset on the electrocardiogram (ECG) to the peak of the A' lateral wave on TDI (PA-TDI duration) provides a reliable estimation of TACT, and the PA-TDI duration has been shown to be significantly related to new-onset AF. 7,8 Our previous study revealed that the PA-TDI duration was predictive of AF in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). 9 trial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after cardiac surgery, occurring in 10-65% of the patients. 1 Several studies have found adverse outcomes associated with postoperative AF (POAF), including increased risk of hospital stay, higher risk of stroke, permanent pacemaker implantation, and increased in-hospital and long-term mortality rates. 2 The incidence of POAF is higher with valvular surgery. 3 Obviously, in aortic valve (AV) surgery, the incidence of AF is related to these postoperative complications. 4 Moreover, Filardo et al reported that new-onset POAF was significantly associated with increased long-term risk of mortality in patients undergoing AV replacement (AVR) surgery. 5 These results indicate that POAF should be prevented and controlled postoperatively.In the past 2 decades, many clinical variables, including preoperative characteristics, comorbidities, intraoperative findings A

Heyde syndrome is a triad of aortic stenosis, acquired coagulopathy, and anemia due to bleeding from intestinal angiodysplasia. Here we describe a case of this syndrome. An 80-year-old woman with severe aortic stenosis was referred to our department for an aortic valve replacement. She suffered from recurrent iron-deficiency anemia and required transfusions every 2 weeks. Gastroscopy and colonoscopy were normal with the exception of angiodysplasia without bleeding in the cecum. After aortic valve replacement her anemia was resolved. She was discharged on postoperative day 22. No transfusions were needed after the procedure. To date, her hemoglobin has remained stable at >10 mg/dL.

The prognosis of rhabdomyosarcoma is poor, and its estimated survival is less than year even after radical resection. We report a patient with recurrent rhabdomyosarcoma 11 years after obtaining remission by radical surgical resection and chemotherapy. Jpn. J. Cardiovasc. Surg. 40 : 184-187 (2011) Keywords：rhabdomyosarcoma, left atrium tumor, myxoma