Objectives      To investigate a more simple and safe surgical technique for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) with bipolar ablation during the valve replacement.       Methods       From January 2010 to October 2011

a total of 163 patients were enrolled in this study to investigate the effect of urine catheter-guided bipolar ablation in the surgical treatment of AF

including 55 males and 108 females aged from 27 to 70 years (mean 47.6 years). All the patients had at least 1 year’s history of AF

and the longest one was 15 years. Maximum diameter of the left atrium ranged from 45 to 80 mm

diameter of the left ventricle from 43 to 74 mm and ejection fraction of the left ventricle from 40% to 70%. All the procedures were performed under the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). After the start of CPB

the left and right pulmonary veins (PV) were carefully separated and encircled with a urine catheter. With the guidance of the catheter

the bipolar ablation clamps were positioned precisely around the PV. Circle ablation of the right and left PVs was performed

followed by the straight-line ablation between the left inferior and superior PVs and between the left PVs and the opening of the left atrial appendage. Then

the opening of the left atrial appendage was closed with continuous suture

followed by the valve replacement and the ablation of the right atrium.       Results      This urine catheter-guided bipolar ablation was successfully applied in 163 patients with AF undergoing valve replacement. The surgical process was uneventful in all the patients without any tear of myocardial or vascular tissue and without bleeding events during and after operations. Except for 1 death (0.6%)

all the patients were discharged as expected.       Conclusion      This technique can effectively simplify the procedure of the ablation of PVs

reduce the associated risk and decrease the incidence of the related complications.