Results of biliary decompression were analyzed in 185 patients with malignant obstructive jaundice. Among them 85 patients underwent nasobiliary drainage, 37 - percutaneous transhepatic bile drainage and 63 - cholecystectomy. Dynamics in biochemical indices of blood serum, cholangiomanometry and jaundice response to decompression according to T. Shimizu et K.Yoshida's formula in our modification were evaluated for estimation of bile flow rate. It is ascertained that application of nasobiliary drainage leads to low-rate decompression, percutaneous transhepatic bile drainage and cholecystectomy - to high-rate decompression. Low-rate decompression enables to decrease significantly the frequency of "fast decompression syndrome" and complications, particularly augmenting of liver dysfunction, multiple organ failure and lethality in post-decompression period related to them.