ObjectiveTo compare clinical effect of biliary metallic stent implantation via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage (PTCD) approaches in treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice. MethodsOne hundred and thirty-six patients with malignant obstructive jaundice who received the biliary metallic stent implantation from June 2010 to June 2015 in this hospital were selected. There were 53 cases via ERCP approach (ERCP group), in which 44 patients with low malignant obstructive jaundice, 9 patients with high malignant obstructive jaundice. There were 83 cases via PTCD approach (PTCD group), in which 24 patients with low malignant obstructive jaundice, 59 patients with malignant obstructive jaundice. The surgical success rate, effective rate, incidence of postoperative complications, hospital stay, and hospitalization expenses were compared in these two groups. Results① The total surgical success rate had no significant difference between the ERCP group and the PTCD group (P > 0.05). The surgical success rate of the patients with low malignant obstructive jaundice had no significant difference between the ERCP group and PTCD group (P > 0.05), which of the patients with high malignant obstructive jaundice in the ERCP group was significantly lower than that in the PTCD group (P < 0.05). ② The total effective rate had no significant difference between the ERCP group and PTCD group (P > 0.05), which of the patients with low malignant obstructive jaundice in the ERCP group was significantly higher than that in the PTCD group (P < 0.05), which of the patients with high malignant obstructive jaundice in the ERCP group was significantly lower than that in the PTCD group (P < 0.05). ③ The hospital stay of the ERCP group was significantly shorter than that in the PTCD group (P < 0.05). The hospitalization expenses had no significant difference between the ERCP group and PTCD group (P > 0.05). ④ The total incidence of complications in the ERCP group was significantly lower than that in the PTCD group (P < 0.05), which of the patients with low malignant obstructive jaundice in the ERCP group was significantly lower than that in the PTCD group (P < 0.05), which of the patients with high malignant obstructive jaundice in the ERCP group was significantly higher than that in the PTCD group (P < 0.05). ConclusionsThe biliary metallic stent implantation via ERCP and PTCD approaches in treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice could all obtain a better clinical efficacy. It has more advantages in patients with low malignant obstructive jaundice via ERCP approach and in the patients with high malignant obstructive jaundice via PTCD approach.