Percutaneous trashepatic biliary drainage is a safe, effective and palliative means of treatment in biliary obstruction, especially in cases with malignant obstruction which are inoperable. 175 cases of transhepaticbiliary draninage were performed on 119 patients with billiary obstruction from January 1985 to June 1989 atKyung-pook National University Hospital. The causes of obstructive jaundice were 110 malignant disesase and 9benign diseases. The most common indication for drainage was pilliative intervention of obstruction secondary tomalignant tumor in 89 cases. 86 cases of external drainage were performed including 3 cases of left duct approach,29 cases of external-internal drainages, immediate major complications(11.9%) occured, including not restrictedto, but sepsis, bile peritonitis and hemobilia. Delayed major complications (42.9%) were mainly catheter related.The delayed major complication of endoprosthesis resulted from obstruction of the internal stent. The mean timeperiod to reobstruction of the internal stent was about 12 weeks. To improve management status, regular follow-upis required, as is education of both patients and their families as to when immediate clinical attention ismandated. Close communication amongst the varying medical specialties involved will be necessary to provideoptimal treatment for each patient.