LetterTo submit a letter in response to a JRSM article, please visit http://jrsm.sagepub.com to find the article concerned, then click on the 'Submit a comment' link found in the Reader Responses section. Comments will automatically be submitted for consideration to be published in print. High-risk training: the courage to teachWe read with interest John Pepper and Aman Coonar's article that outlined the effect that publically available statistics based upon 30-day mortality is having on surgical practice.

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The operating theatre can be an intimidating environment for Foundation Doctors and Medical Students, even if they are interested in surgery. A pre-requisite level of knowledge is required before active participation is possible, which is crucial to access learning opportunities. Initially, junior assistants are often tasked with retraction using a Langenbeck, but good performance here often leads to more substantial contributions later in the operating list. Therefore, it is crucial to be familiar surgical instruments and their function to facilitate active assistance of the primary operator. Below we have compiled the 17 most frequently used surgical instruments and five top tips.

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