Laryngoscope blade design has tended to be relatively arb#rary and so far scientific analysis has not allowed useful comparisons between blade shapes. A new theoretical method of analysing laryngoscope blades is introduced and uses the depth of in

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2 Comparing the mandibular (inferio0 curves of these blades: the diameter of the curve of the #4 blade is longer and the "pocket" that accommodates the tongue is larger. This observation is probably a simplistic explanation why MIT or forward space encroachment is considerably less with the #4 blade. The clinician may thus deduce: -The #4 Macintosh blade should be the principal blade for intubation in normal and large-sized adults with teeth. It is far superior in difficult intubations and should be available on emergency trays, in emergency rooms and, most importantly, in the delivery suite. Spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section in a patient with brain neoplasmaTo the Editor: A 19-year-old gravida I, para 0 came to hospital with nausea, vomiting, and swallowing disturbances at 31 wk gestation. She complained of frontal headaches, dysarthria and difficulty in walking. The patient showed symptoms of involvement of the cranial nerves V, VII, VIII, IX, X, and XII on her right. The tenth cranial nerve displayed signs of right-sided recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis and she repeatedly complained of regurgitation. First tomographic scannings and later histological results demonstrated a glioblastoma multiforme originating from the pontomedullary junction and extending to the cerebellum. The fourth ventricle was narrowed but not obstructed. At 34 wk, amniocentesis was performed to predict fetal lung maturity and bloody tinged amniotic fluid was found. At the same time the eardiotocogram displayed a decreasing fetal heart rate due to uteroplacental insufficiency. A partial placental abruption was suspected and an emergency Caesarean section was planned.

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