When comparing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, it can be said that
A. hemodialysis takes longer than peritoneal dialysis.
B. peritoneal dialysis involves the removal of blood from the patient.
C. hemodialysis is a step closer to the need for transplantation compared with
peritoneal dialysis.
D. peritoneal dialysis doesn’t need a dialyzer to work, whereas hemodialysis does.
In order to compare hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, we need to understand what each type of dialysis involves.
Hemodialysis is a process in which blood is cleaned outside the body using a machine called a dialysis machine. During hemodialysis, a patient's blood is removed from their body through a surgical access site, usually in the form of a vascular access point or AV fistula. It is then passed through a filter called a dialyzer that removes waste products and excess fluid from the blood. The cleaned blood is then returned to the patient's body.
Peritoneal dialysis, on the other hand, involves using the patient's own peritoneum, a membrane that lines the abdominal cavity, as a filter. A sterile solution called dialysate is introduced into the abdomen through a catheter. The peritoneal membrane acts as a filter, allowing waste products and excess fluid to pass from the blood vessels into the dialysate. After a certain amount of time, the dialysate is drained from the abdomen, removing the waste products and excess fluid.
Now let's go through the statements and see which one is correct:
A. Hemodialysis takes longer than peritoneal dialysis: This statement is not accurate. Hemodialysis typically takes around 3-4 hours per session, while peritoneal dialysis is done continuously throughout the day or overnight while the patient sleeps.
B. Peritoneal dialysis involves the removal of blood from the patient: This statement is incorrect. During peritoneal dialysis, blood is not removed from the patient's body. The dialysate fluid is introduced into the abdomen and the peritoneal membrane filters the blood through osmosis.
C. Hemodialysis is a step closer to the need for transplantation compared with peritoneal dialysis: This statement is subjective and depends on various factors. Both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are renal replacement therapies and can be used for a longer-term without necessarily leading to transplantation. The decision for transplantation depends on the individual patient's situation and the recommendations of their healthcare team.
D. Peritoneal dialysis doesn’t need a dialyzer to work, whereas hemodialysis does: This statement is correct. In peritoneal dialysis, the patient's own peritoneal membrane acts as a filter, so a dialyzer is not required. In hemodialysis, however, a dialyzer is an essential component of the process as this is where the blood is cleaned.
Based on the explanations above, the correct statement is D. Peritoneal dialysis doesn’t need a dialyzer to work, whereas hemodialysis does.