Background: Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage is an altative treatment for patients with ma- lignant distal biliary obstruction. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of pancreatitis in patients who had undergone percutaneous placement of a biliary stent and to assess the risk factors for pancreatitis and the treatment outcomes.Methods: From January 2010 to October 2016, 980 patients in our hospital who underwent percutaneous placements of self-expandable metallic stents for obstructive jaundice were retrospectively analyzed. The incidence of pancreatitis and risk factors were assessed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Therapeutics, such as somatostatin, which were also adminstrated to release the symptom and promote the restoration of normal function of pancreas, were also analyzed. Results: Pancreatitis occurred in 45 (4.6％) patients. One patient died from severe acute pancreatitis. Mul- tivariate logistic regression analysis showed that common bile duct stent placement was the only inde- pendent risk factor that related to pancreatitis (odds ratio = 2.096, 95％ CI: 1.248–5.379; P = 0.002). By using somatostatin, the concentrations of serum amylase and lipase were decreased in 44 patients with pancreatitis. No major complications were found during the treatment. Conclusions: Pancreatitis is a relatively low complication of percutaneous placement of biliary stents. The common bile duct stent placement is the only independent risk factor that related to pancreatitis. In this case, the percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage is a preferred method for treatment. Furthermore, somatostatin is a secure and efficacious method to release the symptom and promote the restoration of pancreatic function.