Percutaneous biliary drainage is an effective new nonsurgical method for combined external/internal catheter decompression of obstructed extrahepatic bile ducts. Molnar and Stockum, and more recnetly others, have reported success utilizing this approach to establish biliary drainage in patients with obstructive jaundice. Percutaneous biliary drainage was performed in 9 patients with obstructive jaundice. Internal drainage was accomplished in 4 patients (44.4%), and external drainage in 5 patients (55.6%). Major complications occurred in 2 patients: bile leakage, one: sepsis, one. Minor complications occurred in 7 patients: mild or high fever, 5 cases: transient hemobilia, 2 cases. The catheter management problems encountered including pain, catheter dislodgment or migration, lumen occulusion, and external bile leakage.