OBJECTIVE： To compare the efficacy and safety of dabigatran and warfarin respectively used in atrial fibrillation patients after radiofrequency ablation （RFCA）. METHODS： Data of 141 nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients， who scheduled for RFCA， were retrospectively analyzed and divided into warfarin group （71 cases） and dabigatran group （70 cases） by different medication. Patients in warfarin group should stop warfarin if they took before， then changed to Low molecular weight heparin calcium injection 100 U/kg， subcutaneous injection， taking RFCA when INR was lower than 1.5， stopping low molecular weight heparin 12 h before surgery； Low molecular weight heparin calcium injection 100 U/kg was intravenously injected when surgery； orally taking Warfarin sodium tablet 4.5 mg after 4-6 h， once a day， meanwhile bridged overlapping treated at least 3-5 d with low molecular weight heparin； monitoring once INR every 3 d after surgery， maintaining INR 2.0-3.0， taking warfalin at least 3 months. Patients in dabigatran group stopped taking the anticoagulant drugs when admission， then changed to Dabigatran etexilate capsule 110 mg （age≥70 years old or body mass＜60 kg） or 150 mg （age＜70 years old or body mass≥60 mg）， twice a day； stopping dabigatran 24 h before surgery， the same medication as warfalin group when surgery； orally taking dabigatran after 6 h， taking at least 3 months. The total mortality rate， incidence of stroke （transient cerebral ischemia， ischemic encephalopathy）， peripheral thrombosis rate and incidence of bleeding after 1 and 3 month（s） in 2 groups were observed. RESULTS： There were no significant differences in the total mortality rate， incidence of stroke， peripheral thrombosis rate and incidence of bleeding after 1 and 3 month（s） in 2 groups （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS： Dabigatran has similar anticoagulant efficacy and safety with warfarin in atrial fibrillation patients after RFCA.