Whole_lung_lavage
Whole lung lavage (WLL), also called lung washing, is a medical procedure in which the patient's lungs are washed with saline (salt water) by filling and draining repeatedly. It is used to treat pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, in which excess lung surfactant proteins prevent the patient from breathing.[1][2] Some sources consider it a variation of bronchoalveolar lavage.[3]
WLL has been experimentally used for silicosis,[4] other forms of mineral inhalation, and accidental inhalation of radioactive dust.[5] It appears to effectively remove these foreign particles.[4][6] WLL treatments may slow down the lung function decline of miners with pneumoconiosis.[7]