Abstract
<jats:p>Obstructive jaundice is a serious condition often caused by biliary obstruction from stones or tumors, requiring timely biliary drainage to prevent complications like cholangitis and liver failure. Minimally invasive technologies – primarily endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) – have largely replaced open surgical drainage for these patients. Minimally invasive biliary drainage techniques are clinically justified as first-line interventions in obstructive jaundice due to their high efficacy in jaundice relief, lower complication rates, and faster recovery times compared to traditional surgery. Optimal outcomes are achieved by selecting ERCP or PTBD based on obstruction level, with surgery reserved for cases where less invasive methods fail or as part of staged definitive treatment.</jats:p>