ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect and experience of monopolar or bipolar radiofrequency ablation for organic heart disease with atrial fibrillation under the open heart surgery. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 305 patients with organic heart disease such as atrial fibrillation underwent the open heart surgery in Changle People's Hospital and Shanghai Renji Hospital between December 2004 year and December 2013 year. There were 188 male and 117 female patients at age of 38 to 81 years. The patients were divided into three groups according to monopolar or bipolar radiofrequency ablation used. There were 128 patients in a monopolar group, 165 patients in a bipolar group, and 12 patients in a combined group with monopolar radiofrequency ablation plus bipolar radiofrequency ablation. ResultTwo patients died after operation. There were 249 patients (81.6%) with sinus rhythm after operation. Sinus rhythm was restored 78.9% in the monopolar group compared with 83.6% in the bipolar group with a statistical difference (P>0.05). We followed up the patients for 3 to 85 (38.2±15.4) months after operation. There were no statistical differences in sinus rhythm rates after following-up 0.5 year (80.5% vs. 83.9%, P>0.05), 1 year (78.4% vs. 83.3%, P>0.05), 2 years (76.5% vs. 81.1%, P>0.05), and 5 years(73.8% vs. 77.1%, P>0.05). ConclusionMonopolar or bipolar radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation with open heart surgery is an effective method, especially in long-term effect. There was no significant difference between the monopolar group and the bipolar group in effect. Bipolar radiofrequency ablation can reduce the ablation time.