Compare and Contrast Essay

Eleven years ago when I became critically ill my kidneys began to fail.   As a result of my failing kidneys, hemodialysis was started.   Throughout this ordeal, I was unconscious and unable to make any decisions regarding my care, leaving this burden on my family and physicians.   In the intensive care unit my hemodialysis continued around the clock for one week.   Once I was stabilized, I was transferred out of the intensive care unit to a regular room.   Out of ICU, my dialysis continued 3 times a week for the next 2 weeks. Without dialysis for my kidneys, I would not have survived my illness.   Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are the two methods of dialysis available to treat renal failure.   Each method has different administration techniques and diet specifications, but similarly they extend the life of patients in renal failure.
First, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis both use the same principles of osmosis and diffusion.   During the process of osmosis and diffusion, both methods of dialysis filter excess chemicals, waste products, and fluid from the bloodstream.   During hemodialysis, the hemodialyzer membrane provides ultrafiltration, and wastes clearance properties.   During peritoneal dialysis, the membrane in the peritoneum has these same ultrafiltration and clearance capabilities.   In the Nephrology Nursing Journal, the author says, “Necessary elements include a semipermeable membrane, dialysate solution, and a surgically created access” (Zorzanello, 2004, p. 588).   The membrane the author is referring to is the membrane in the hemodialyzer for hemodialysis patients, or the peritoneal membrane in the abdomen of the patient receiving peritoneal dialysis.   The dialysate is an important aspect of both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis because dialysate contains the osmotic components necessary for removing of excess fluid from the bloodstream.  
According to Zorzanello, (2004) “the sodium dialysate is varied during hemodialysis to achieve fluid...