Non-invasive ventilation in the treatment of ventilatory failure followingcorrective spinal surgery

Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation has previously been used success fully to treat both acute and chronic ventilatory failure secondary to a nu mber of conditions, including scoliosis. We report two patients in whom it was used, on three separate occasions, to treat acute ventilatory failure f ollowing corrective spinal surgery. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilat ion may be useful postoperatively in high-risk patients undergoing major sp inal surgery in an attempt to prevent intubation and its attendant complica tions.