Dialysis

dialysis /di·al·y·sis/ (di-al´i-sis) [Gr.]

1. the process of separating macromolecules from ions and low molecular weight compounds in solution by the difference in their rates of diffusion through a semipermeable membrane, through which crystalloids pass readily but colloids pass slowly or not at all.

2. hemodialysis.dialyt´ic

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equilibrium dialysis  a technique of determination of the association constant of hapten-antibody reactions.

lymph dialysis  removal of urea and other elements from lymph collected from the thoracic duct, treated outside the body, and later reinfused.

peritoneal dialysis  dialysis through the peritoneum, the dialyzing solution being introduced into and removed from the peritoneal cavity, as either a continuous or an intermittent procedure.

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di·al·y·sis (d-l-ss)

n. pl. di·al·y·ses (-sz)

1. The separation of smaller molecules from larger molecules or of dissolved substances from colloidal particles in a solution by selective diffusion through a semipermeable membrane. Also called diffusion.

2. Hemodialysis.

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dia·lytic (--ltk) adj.

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Dialysis

A process of filtering and removing waste products from the bloodstream. Two main types are hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. In hemodialysis, the blood flows out of the body into a machine that filters out the waste products and routes the cleansed blood back into the body. In peritoneal dialysis, the cleansing occurs inside the body. Dialysis fluid is injected into the peritoneal cavity and wastes are filtered through the peritoneum, the thin membrane that surrounds the abdominal organs.

Mentioned in: Alport Syndrome, Glomerulonephritis, Kidney Transplantation, Shigellosis, Thrombolytic Therapy

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dialysis (dīal´isis),

n a type of filtration used to separate smaller molecules from larger ones contained in a solution. The molecular solution is placed on one side of a semipermeable membrane and water on the other side. The smaller molecules pass through the membrane into the water; the larger molecules are retained in the solution.

dialysis, kidney, artificial,

n See kidney dialysis, artificial.

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dialysis

the diffusion of solute molecules through a semipermeable membrane, passing from the side of higher concentration to that of the lower; a method sometimes used in cases of defective renal function to remove from the blood elements that are normally excreted in the urine (hemodialysis). The principles of dialysis are utilized in renal dialysis with a hemodialyzer (hemodialysis) and in peritoneal dialysis.

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extracorporeal dialysis

dialysis by a hemodialyzer. See hemodialysis.

peritoneal dialysis

dialysis through the peritoneum, the dialyzing solution being introduced into and removed from the peritoneal cavity, as either a continuous or an intermittent procedure. See also peritoneal dialysis.

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dialysis Nephrology The separation of molecules in solution based on differences in size; in renal failure, dialysis is used to separate macromolecules from low-molecular-weight molecules, using a semipermeable membrane Therapeutics The clearance of a drug by a hemodialysis unit. See Hemodialysis, Peritoneal dialysis.