Long-term noninvasive ventilation offers the patient with thoracovertebral deformities, including deformities that result from the severe skeletal and chest-wall sequelae of tuberculosis, what long-term oxygen therapy has offered patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: improved survival and prevention or alleviation of cor pulmonale. Long-term noninvasive intermittent positive pressure ventilation, particularly nocturnal use, has little inconvenience, because ventilation during the night often suffices. Major advantages include correction of hypoventilation during autonomous breathing time that is usually sufficient to permit patients to resume their activities of daily living without need for ventilatory assistance during the day and efficacy comparable to that of intermittent positive pressure ventilation via an indwelling tracheostomy tube, without the inconveniences (tracheostomy is always available if necessary).