Subarachnoid block (SAB) or general anaesthesia (GA) was induced in 85 patients undergoing total hup replacement. The frequency of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), assessed by fibrinogen uptake studies and venography, was 29% in those patients receiving SAB and 54% in the GA group. Total blood loss (intraoperative and post-operative wound suction dmage) in SAB group was 66% and total transfusion volume 52% of that of GA group. No morbidity armbutable to SAB or to the associated artenal hypotension was detected.