Anaesthesia for awake craniotomy with non-invasive positive pressure ventilation

Airway management during awake craniotomy is a crucial part of the anaesthetic technique, but it remains the subject of debate. We report two cases of anaesthesia for awake craniotomy using non-invasive positive pressure ventilation; biphasic positive airway pressure or proportional assist ventilation was employed. Both ventilatory techniques provided adequate lung ventilation, smooth transition between anaesthesia and arousal, and patient comfort.