Objective:This stndy aims to investigate the clinical effect of minimally invasive surgical ablation in treatment of atrial fibrillation(AF). Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed adult patients with AF treated by minimally invasive surgical ablation in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Logistic multivariate regression was used to detect the risk factors. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to perform survival analysis. Cox proportional risk model was used to assess risk factors. Results:A total of 245 patients with AF were included in this study,including 158 males(64.5%)and 87 females(35.5%),with median age 63.0 years. The recurrence rate of AF was 33.9% in 83 cases. Compared with patients without AF recurrence,patients in the AF recurrence group had a larger left atrial[(40.2±5.8)mm vs. 42.3±6.0 mm),P=0.010] and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension[(46.8±4.6)mm vs. (48.0±4.3)mm,P=0.044]. Cox analysis showed AF type[paroxysmal AF as the control,persistent and long-term AF HR(95%CI)=4.67(2.62~8.32),P < 0.000 1] and left atvial [HR(95%CI)=1.05(1.00~1.10) per 1 mm P=0.048] were independent risk factors for AF recurrence. Conclusion:For patients with AF,minimally invasive surgical ablation is effective,and the risk factors should be paid attention to when formulating surgical ablation strategies before surgery to formulate corresponding protective or preventive measures.