In the presence of obstructive jaundice, surgical procedures are associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. In an endeavour to identify risk factors associated with a poor outcome, a detailed prospective study of 28 jaundiced patients has been performed. Factors associated with a fatal outcome of operation were serum bilirubin level> 300 µmol/1, glomerular filtration rate <50 ml/min, the presence of an abnormal level of fibrin degradation products (FDP) in serum, and the presence of endotoxaemia. Postoperative deep venous thrombosis was associated with low serum albumin, normal liver enzymes and rapid kaolin clotting time. Postoperative haemorrhage occurred in patients with FDP or endotoxaemia. Patients with normal renal function or elevated levels of liver enzymes were protected from sepsis. Based on the identification of these risk factors and of those patients with inoperable disease, a plan for management is proposed.