PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

Which dialysis method involves the use of the peritoneum for the exchange of fluids and substances?

1. Hemodialysis

2. Peripheral dialysis

3. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

4. Peritoneal dialysis

The correct answer is: Peritoneal dialysis

The correct answer is peritoneal dialysis, which utilizes the peritoneum, a membrane lining the abdominal cavity, for the exchange of fluids and solutes. This method involves instilling a sterile dialysis solution into the peritoneal cavity through a catheter. The peritoneum acts as a semi-permeable membrane, allowing waste products and excess fluids from the bloodstream to pass into the dialysis solution. Over time, the solution is drained and replaced with fresh solution, effectively removing metabolic waste and maintaining fluid balance in patients with renal failure. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, while also involving the use of the peritoneum, is a specific form of peritoneal dialysis that is performed manually and requires the patient to carry out exchanges throughout the day without the need for a machine. This method still relies on the core principles of peritoneal dialysis, but does not encompass all forms of this treatment. Hemodialysis, on the other hand, utilizes an artificial kidney machine to filter waste and excess water from the blood, rather than using the body's peritoneum. Peripheral dialysis typically refers to the access site or region related to vascular dialysis, which does not involve the peritoneum at all. Thus, peritoneal dialysis accurately describes the