ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnostic value of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in obstructive jaundice of elderly patients. MethodsTotally 338 patients with obstructive jaundice underwent ERCP were divided into elderly group (age ≥60 years old) and nonelderly group (age lt;60 years old) based on age. The levels of serum amylase (AMY), ALT, and TBIL in 6, 24, and 48 h after ERCP were detected. The success rate of cholangiopancreatography, accuracy rate of diagnosis, and incidence of complications after ERCP in two groups were analyzed. ResultsThe difference of serum AMY, ALT, and TBIL levels of patients in 6, 24, and 48 h after ERCP were not significant between two groups (Pgt;0.05). The success rate of cholangiopancreatography in nonelderly group was 96.3% (130/135) and in elderly group was 96.1% (195/203), and no difference was found (Pgt;0.05). However, the accuracy rate of diagnosis of ERCP in nonelderly group (84.6%, 110/130) was significantly lower than that in elderly group (98.5%, 192/195), Plt;0.05. The difference of the incidence of complications was not significant between two groups 〔14.8% (20/135) vs. 17.2% (35/203)〕, Pgt;0.05. There was no mortality in two groups patients. ConclusionERCP is a safe, effective, and accurate method, which is of importance to the diagnosis of obstructive jaundice in elderly patients.