[The retained surgical sponge, an ongoing surgical problem].

: The retained surgical sponge seems to be an ongoing problem. Despite the fact that reports of retained surgical sponges are comparatively rare, this problem seems to be more prevalent than is generally appreciated. Even though counting sponges is a tedious task, it should nonetheless be performed with the utmost attention. Although the presence of radiopaque wires in the sponges is helpful in locating these, it does not prevent surgical sponges from being forgotten. These retained sponges can result in serious conditions such as septic complications or pseudo-tumour formation, which in turn might lead to extensive diagnostic and secondary surgical procedures.