Alopecia is a minor complication following open heart surgery, but it is a cosmetic and psychotic problem to the patient. Especially the extensive long period of operation, prolonged mechanical ventilation and no change of patient head position during operative and recovery period may serve the localized scalp pressure effect, which causes postoperative alopecia. So, for prevention of the postoperative alopecia, adequate blood flow and pressure must be maintained with alternative change of head position during operative and recovery period. The author experienced one case of occipital alopecia following open heart surgery and reports with literature.[KTCS 1979;3:259-262]