Abstract: Objective : To evaluate the value of biliary stents in treatment of malignant ob-struction of the bile duct. Methods : Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and stent insertion were performed in 135 patients with malignant biliary obstruction. Intraarterial chemotherapy or transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization were adopted for 87 out of the 135 patients. Results : Single stent was inserted in 128 cases and 2 stens inserted in 7 cases (biliary stent in 5 cases and duodenum stent in 2 cases). The successful rate of stent inserting technique was 99.3%(142/143), jaundice disappearing rate 86.7%(117/135) and total effective rate 97.8%(132/135). The 6, 12 and 24 months survival rates of these patients were 71.1%(96/135), 43.7%(59/135) and 11.9% (16/135) respectively. 12 months survival rate was 54.0%(47/87) and 25.0%(12/48) in the com-bined treatment group and simple stenting group respectively. There was significant difference in 12 months survival rate between the two groups(χ²=10.59 P<0.001). For the 21 patients with stent restenosis, 15 were managed with stenting in the stent, 7 with drainage through percutaneous puncture, and jaundice faded again. Conclusions : Biliary stent placement are an efficient means of treating malignant biliary obstruction and reducing the level of serum bilirubin. Stent insertion combined with different anti-cancer treatments can increase 12 months survival rate in the patients.