Massive pericardial effusion following a laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is currently the most common bariatric surgical procedure. The most frequent complications of LAGB surgery are pouch dilatation, gastric prolapse, band erosion, stoma obstruction and access-port problems. We report a rare life-threatening case of massive pericardial effusion as a complication of an infected Lap-Band. The management of this condition included subxiphoid pericardial window, removal of the band and later conversion to gastric bypass.