[Tactics in the management of patients with mechanical jaundice]

On the basis of examination of 320 patients with mechanical jaundice the authors recommend to begin the examination by performing retrograde cholangiopancreatography and if necessary to add transcutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. In all the cases an attempt should be made to resolve the jaundice before operation by means of nasobiliary drainage of bile ducts, endoscopic papillotomy, transhepatic cholangiostomy. In aggravating nonresolved jaundice the examination and attempts to resolve the jaundice by conservative measures should not take more than 4-5 days.