Lost 'swab' at inguinal hernioplasty under local anaesthesia.

Small surgical swabs should not be placed adjacent to polypropylene mesh prosthetics.

Illumination of x-rays: the usual lights exposed.

Aims: Faced with pressure of work and limited resource, doctors frequently use the nearest available light to examine x-ray films. The aim of this study was to examine the relative intensities of hospital light sources, and to compare these with the light intensity guidelines (1500 to 3000 candelas) of the British Institute of Radiology.

Methods: The relative intensities of seven hospital light sources were examined using a standard light meter at a constant 30 cm from the source.