Atrial fibrillation[Af] is closely related to thrombus in left atrium, systemic embolism, and loss of the contribution of atrial contraction to cardiac output. Therefore maintenance of sinus rhythm[SR] is undoubtedly hemodynamically superior to Af in the clinical course of mitral valvular disease especially in the unstable period immediately after surgery. In this article, the conversion rate and the factors influencing the conversion of Af to SR after surgery were studied. Ninety-three patients with mitral valvular replacement at Chungnam National University Hospital were analysed with electrocardiography before and after surgery during the period from June 1985 to June 1990. Eighty patients presented Af before surgery. Twenty-four[30Yo] of the patients were converted to SR[A group] and fifty six presented continuous Af after surgery[B group]. The duration of preoperative Af, preoperative left atrial dimension[LAD], preoperative functional status[NYHA classification] and cardiothoracic[CT] ratio were factors influencing the conversion of Af to SR after surgery. The mean preoperative duration of Af was 3.5$pm$2.6yr in group A and 7.6$pm$4.9yr in group B. The mean preoperative LAD was 53. 7$pm$9.4mm in group A and 62.5$pm$11.2mm in group B. Before surgery, eleven patients[46%] were belong to NYHA class I, II in group A and eight[14%] in group B. The preoperative CT ratio was 62$pm$6% in group A and 69$pm$8% in group B.