Abstract: Objective To summarize the clinical outcomes of maze procedure using bipolar radiofrequency ablation accompanied with valve replacement for the surgical treatment of permanent atrial fibrillation(AF) and rheumatic valve diseases. Methods A total of 124 patients with permanent AF and rheumatic valves diseases undergoing surgical treatment from March 2006 to October 2010 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were randomly divided into ablation group and control group using coin method with 62 patients in each group. The mean atrial fibrillation duration was(56.1±47.1) months in ablation group, and patients in this group underwent maze procedure using bipolar radiofrequency ablation and valve replacement. The mean atrial fibrillation duration was(43.8±25.6) months in control group, and patients in this group underwent only valve replacement. Demographic characteristics, cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB)time, aortic cross-clamping(ACC)time, mechanical ventilation time, intensive care unit(ICU) length of stay, postoperative complications and follow-up outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results The demographic characteristics of the two groups were not statistically different (P>0.05). The CPB time and ACC time between the two groups were not statistically different (P> 0.05). The postoperative hospital stay of ablation group was significantly longer than that of control group (15.8±6.1 d vs. 12.9±3.1d,P=0.001). No patient needed permanent pacemaker implantation in either group. Postoperative ejection fraction of ablation group was significantly higher than that of control group(59.6%±9.2% vs. 55.5%±5.4%,P< 0.01). The rate of sinus rhythm maintenance at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months during follow-up in ablation group were 88.5%, 87.5%, 87.1% and 82.4% respectively, 3.3%, 2.2%, 0.0%, and 0.0% in control group respectively, which was statistically different between the two groups(P< 0.05). Conclusion Maze procedure using bipolar radiofrequency ablation is an effective surgical procedure for the treatment of permanent atrial fibrillation.