Objective To observe therapeutical effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on postoperative obstructive jaundice. Methods Fourtyeight patients were divided into two groups randomly: control group with 30 patients and rhGH group with 18 patients. After operation, subcutaneous injection of rhGH was administered 8 U/d for a week. At the same time, parenteral nutrition was given to both groups until the patients could eat and drink. Biochemistry examination, endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor, sIL-2R and nutritional status were all measured at following states: before operation 1, 7 and 14 days after operation. Results Body weights of rhGH group on the fourth day after operation and that of control group on the seventh day after operation increased, but the increasing tendency of rhGH group was more prominent than the control group. For blood sugar 7 days after operation, the level of rhGH group was higher than that of control group (P＜0.05). The level of serum albumin, transferrin, prealbumin in rhGH group was higher than that of control goup （P＜0.05）. Blood serum total bile acid,total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein,glutamicoxal acetic transaminase, transglutaminase, total bilirubin, endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor and sIL-2R were all decreased compared with control group (P＜0.01). However, no significant difference was observed in renal function and electrolute between the two groups.Conclusion An improvement of nutrition status and immunologic function can be observed in obstructive jaundice patients after the postoperative administration of rhGH.