We describe a case of laparoscopic retrieval of a retained surgical spong in the hypogastrium of a patient who had been previously operated on for an incisional hernia repair. The foreign body was associated with a large abscess. Two 10 mm trocars and 5mm were used. After lysis of the adherences, the abscess contents was aspired and the surgical spong was delicately removed by a small incision in the right inferior quadrant of the abdomen. The patient had a uneventful recovery with no apparent damage to the herniorrafy, which would probably be affected by the open surgery