Welcome to this lesson on the use of logbooks. ​ This lesson is designed more specifically for medical students, however it may still be useful for those of you not in medical school. ​ It is a very good idea to keep a logbook of the cases you have observed and assisted in throughout your career. This is especially true if you want to pursue a surgical career, however it is nevertheless a useful additional to your CV even if you don't.  ​ It is advisable to start your logbook earlier rather than later, and definitely during medical school. This logbook will be very useful if you were to apply for surgical training. As it can be very difficult to get time in theatre during foundation training, most of your opportunities to fill out your logbook will come during medical school. ​ I personally use the website eLogbook.org. It is completely free and presents all the various fields of information that you need from an operation. Some may find it easier to write their cases down on paper, noting the patient's hospital number, operation and other relevant details. This must be done very carefully as not to miss off necessary information about a case, but to also maintain patient confidentiality if the paper were to be lost.  ​ Whilst using online logbooks, you may come across ASA grades. An ASA grade refers to how unwell the anaesthetist judges the patient to be in pre-op assessment. To find it out, ask the anaesthetist.