Retained surgical sponge: an unusual cause of malabsorption.

Retained surgical sponge is an unpleasant surprise in clinical practice. Intraluminal migration of the retained sponge, though rare, can lead to intestinal obstruction and other complications. We describe two cases of retained surgical sponge, both following gynaecological surgery, presenting several years after surgery with features of subacute intestinal obstruction, malabsorption and several years after surgery with features of subacute intestinal obstruction, malabsorption and sever hypoproteinemia which reverted after surgical removal.