sponge count

Many cases of a retained instrument originally reported a correct sponge count when the patient was released.

However a study done in 2008 reported to the Annals of Surgery that mistakes in tool and sponge counts happened in 12.5% of surgeries.

You're doing a hundred other things at the same time, and as much as you try to keep your attention on it [sponge counts] if the surgeon needs something, it's easy to get distracted."