Pelvic cellulitis: a life-threatening complication of hemorrhoidal banding.

Rubber band ligation is a commonly employed office procedure for the eradication of symptomatic internal hemorrhoids. Since 1980 increasingly frequent reports of an often fatal complication--"pelvic cellulitis"--have appeared. Death has been avoided for some of these patients by early recognition and treatment. One such survivor is reported here, in a case report that illustrates the value of early recognition of symptoms and appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic intervention.