A 10-year-old girl with a history of congenital heart defects and prior cardiac surgeries was hospitalized for 45 days due to a pericardial effusion that could not be drained through repeated pericardiocentesis attempts. The effusion was affecting the outcomes of her cardiac procedures. A laparoscopic pericardial fenestration was performed to drain the pericardial collection through an abdominal route since the chest bore multiple scars from prior surgeries. The procedure was performed minimally invasively using four abdominal ports under transoesophageal echocardiographic guidance. The patient recovered well with resolution of the effusion and was discharged on the fourth postoperative day. Follow up at