Canadian respiratory journal : journal of the Canadian Thoracic Society
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The accumulation of pleural effusion has important effects on respiratory system function. It changes the elastic equilibrium volumes of the lung and chest wall, resulting in a restrictive ventilatory effect, chest wall expansion and reduced efficiency of the inspiratory muscles. ⋯ The decrease in lung volume is associated with hypoxemia mainly due to an increase in right to left shunt. The drainage of pleural fluid results in an increase in lung volume that is considerably less than the amount of aspirated fluid, while hypoxemia is not readily reversible upon fluid aspiration.