Final answer:
An artificial pleural effusion is a medical procedure where a lung is temporarily deflated to rest, often used during surgery or after trauma to reestablish necessary negative pressure for lung inflation.
Step-by-step explanation:
An artificial pleural effusion is when a physician temporarily deflates the lung to give it rest. This procedure might be done during surgery or when a patient has sustained trauma. The lungs are normally kept inflated by negative pressure in the pleural cavity, which results from liquid adhesion attaching the lungs to the chest wall. The gauge pressure is negative, ranging from -4 to -8 mm Hg. If air enters the chest cavity, this adhesion breaks and can lead to a collapsed lung, a condition also known as spontaneous pneumothorax. Suction is then used to restore the negative pressure needed for lung inflation.
Our lungs are composed of alveoli, which are tiny mucus-lined sacs where gas exchange occurs. Surfactant in the lungs helps to reduce surface tension, allowing for easier inflation and prevention of alveoli collapse. If the lung does not stay inflated on its own due to disease or injury, medical interventions such as positive pressure respirators or artificial pleural effusion might be necessary. These methods assist with providing the necessary pressure to maintain lung volume and function.