Objective To analyze the effect of ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage (PTCD) in the treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ).

Methods Clinical materials of 38 MOJ patients treated by ultrasound-guided PTCD were collected. The improvement of blood biochemical indexes before operation and 2 weeks after operation was compared; the curative effect was evaluated according to the symptoms of obstructive jaundice and the improvement of bilirubin level, and the total effective rate was calculated; the incidence rates of complications such as postoperative biliary bleeding, biliary infection, bile leakage and drainage tube obstruction were recorded.

Results At 2 weeks after operation, levels of total bilirubin (TB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), direct bilirubin (DB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) and serum albumin of patients were significantly lower than those before operation (P < 0.01). After 2 weeks of PTCD treatment in 38 patients, the total effective rate was 94.7% (36/38). After PTCD treatment in 38 patients, the total incidence of complications was 7.9% (3/38), including one case of bile duct bleeding, one case of bile leakage, and one case of biliary infection.

Conclusion Ultrasound-guided PTCD is safe in the treatment of MOJ, with has a high success rate of puncture, which can effectively improve the patient's liver function, alleviate the symptoms of obstructive jaundice, and has a low postoperative incidence rate of complications.