We recommend that oral anticoagulant therapy be continued following surgical AF ablation in patients with a CHADS<sub>2</sub> score &ge;2. (Recommendation Strong, Quality Moderate)<br /><br />We suggest that oral anticoagulant therapy be continued following surgical AF ablation in patients who have undergone mechanical or bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement. (Recommendation Conditional, Quality Low)<br /><br /><b>Values and preferences: </b>These recommendations place a high value on minimizing the risk of stroke and a lower value in the utility of long-term monitoring to document the absence of AF.