Hematology

Branch of internal medicine concerned with the scientific study of blood and blood-forming tissues and with the treatment of diseases and disorders of the blood.

Hemodiafiltration

Simultaneous hemodialysis and hemofiltration, which involves the removal of large volumes of fluid and fluid replacement to maintain hemodynamic stability. It requires the use of ultra pure dialysate or intravenous fluid for volume replacement. Also called high-flux hemodiafiltration and double high-flux hemodiafiltration .

hemodialysis (HD)

1. Method of dialysis in which blood from a patient’s body is circulated through an external device or machine and then returned to the patient’s bloodstream. Such an artificial kidney machine is usually designed to remove fluids and metabolic end products from the bloodstream by placing the blood in contact with a semipermeable membrane, which is bathed on one side by an appropriate chemical solution, referred to as dialysate . 2. Treatment usually done in a dialysis facility but can be done at home with the proper training and supplies. HD uses a special filter called a dialyzer or artificial kidney to clean the blood. The filter connects to a machine. During treatment, the blood flows through tubes into the filter to clean out wastes and extra fluids. Then the newly cleaned blood flows through another set of tubes and back into the body.