Objective: To explore prognostic factors for clinical treatment of patients with malignant obstructive jaundice.
Methods: 17 variables from 216 consecutive patients with malignant obstructive jaundice admitted from 1990 to 1997 were included for statistical analysis.
Results: The overall mortality was 19.9% (43/216), and the morbidity 37.5% (81/216). The morbidity of radical operation was higher than that of palliative operation (P < 0.01). There was a highly significant correlation between mortality, morbidity, ASA grade and duration of jaundice (P < 0.01). No correlation was seen between the mortality, type of operation and cause of jaundice. There was a highly significant correlation between the morbidity and the type of operation.
Conclusions: The choice of operation in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice is radical operation. Early diagnosis and choice of treatment are essential to improving carative effect.