continuous administration of landiolol at a low dose after off-pump coronary artery bypass reduced the incidence of atrial fibrillation.

We report an unusual case of intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia 2 years after coronary artery bypass surgery with the right gastroepiploic artery. Herniation through the orifice created for the right gastroepiploic artery caused small bowel strangulation and secondary volvulus requiring extensive small bowel resection due to acute mesenteric ischemia. This case highlights the importance of careful operative management of coronary artery bypass surgery with the right gastroepiploic artery and increases awareness of this rare but potentially fatal complication.

A 78-year-old woman with an aneurysm in the pulmonary trunk associated with an atrial septal defect, left anterior descending coronary artery fistula to the pulmonary trunk and valvular pulmonary stenosis is reported. The aneurysm showed gradual dilatation over 16 years and was successfully treated using aneurysmorrhaphy. Although there has been some controversy regarding the optimum management for a pulmonary artery aneurysm, surgical correction is thought to be essential for aneurysms associated with congenital cardiac anomalies because of the high incidence of rupture.

Spinal epidural hematomas are rare entities that can be associated with spinal traumatic injuries and vascular lesions or that can spontaneously arise. Several reports have linked these hematomas to heart valve surgery. We herein describe a 71-year-old female patient who developed postoperative paraplegia immediately after mitral valve repair. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an epidural hematoma of the spinal cord from C7 to Th4. A laminectomy was not performed because the patient's paraplegia gradually improved. After continuous rehabilitation, the patient regained sufficient muscle strength to perform standing exercises. She is presently capable of routine activities at home and is undergoing bethanechol chloride treatment for a neurogenic urinary bladder. Motor and sensory deficits of both lower limbs in a patient that arise immediately after heart surgery must be examined by early imaging to rule out space-occupying pathologies such as spinal epidural hematomas.