〔Abstract〕 Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban for 100 U unfractionated heparin per kilogram body weight in anticoagulation treatment without activated coagulation time(ACT) monitoring before catheter ablation for patients with atrial fibrillation, and to analyze the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.Methods Ninety-eight patients were selected for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation, among whom 45 patients had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and 53 patients had persistent atrial fibrillation. The patients were divided into two groups according to different anticoagulant drugs administered preoperatively. One group received rivaroxaban in anticoagulant treatment, known as the rivaroxaban group, with a total of 31 cases. Another group received warfarin, known as the warfarin group, also as the control group, a total of 67 cases. Both groups were administered uninterrupted anticoagulant drugs before catheter ablation. According to clinical experience, all subjects received intravenous unfractionated heparin with 100 u per kilogram body weight at the beginning of ablation, with another 1 000 U unfractionated heparin added for each hour during catheter ablation. 17 ml/min cold saline infusion with 1 ∶1 unfractionated heparin was applied during catheter ablation. ACT was not monitored in all subjects. The postoperative anticoagulation regimen was the same as preoperative for at least 3 months. The postoperative follow-up consists of readmission follow-up,outpatient follow-up and telephone follow-up,and the incidences of intraoperative bleeding and thromboembolic events were assessed in two groups during operation,hospitalization and 3 months after catheter ablation. Results The baseline data of two groups showed no statistical significance except body weight. No pericardial tamponade,TIA,cerebral embolism,cerebral hemorrhage and puncture site hemorrhage were observed. Cerebral embolism occurred in one case in rivaroxaban group on the first day after catheter ablation,which was not detected in warfarin group. Statistical results showed no difference in the incidence of cerebral embolism between the two groups during hospitalization,and no other adverse events occurred during hospitalization. No statistically significant difference was detected in the incidence of puncture site bleeding,gingival bleeding and gastrointestinal bleeding between the two groups during 3 months' follow-up. Intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in one case in warfarin group,which was not found in rivaroxaban group. No statistically significant difference was detected in the incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage between the two groups,and no thromboembolic events occurred in two groups during 3 months' follow-up. Conclusion Rivaroxaban is safe and effective for 100 U unfractionated heparin per kilogram body weight in catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation without ACT monitoring in patients. The application of uninterrupted oral rivaroxaban is feasible for anticoagulation after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation,and its safety and efficacy are not inferior to those of uninterrupted warfarin therapy.