Biology Forums - Study Force

Compare and contrast hemodialysis and CAPD.

Both forms of dialysis have the same end goal, which is to remove nitrogenous wastes, regulate blood volume, and regulate pH (i.e., to replace kidney functions). During hemodialysis, blood is removed from the patient and is exposed to dialysate in an artificial kidney machine. The blood is then returned to the body. This type of dialysis takes several hours, usually several times a week, in a hospital setting and is limiting to the patient. In CAPD, the dialysate is emptied into the abdominal cavity where dialysis takes place in the body; the patient's peritoneum serves as the dialyzing membrane. CAPD can be performed at home. The patient leaves the fluid for several hours and then drains it off. The next cycle then begins. This type of dialysis is gentler and allows the patient more freedom but comes with the cost of increasing risk of infection ( peritonitis).