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

Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation has previously been used successfully to treat both acute and chronic ventilatory failure secondary to a number of conditions, including scoliosis. We report two patients in whom it was used, on three separate occasions, to treat acute ventilatory failure following corrective spinal surgery. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation may be useful postoperatively in high-risk patients undergoing major spinal surgery in an attempt to prevent intubation and its attendant complications.