Spinal anaesthesia and non-invasive positive pressure ventilation for hip surgery in an obese patient with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

We describe the use of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation combined with spinal anaesthesia to allow the insertion of a dynamic hip screw in an obese patient with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The technique avoided the hazards of intubation and general anaesthesia in this high-risk patient.