Gossypiboma (GP) or retained surgical sponge is one of the rare surgical complications which can happen despite precau-tions. Because of the medico-legal issues, it is under-reported. An 8-year-old thalassemic girl, with a history of splenectomy and cholecystectomy, presented to us with acute intestinal obstruction and required surgical exploration. Intraluminal gossy-piboma obstructing the ileum was found. Though a rare cause, gossypiboma should also be included in the differential diag-noses of postoperative intestinal obstruction.