What indicates that a client understands the purpose of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)?

The correct answer highlights that continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) utilizes the peritoneum as a semi-permeable membrane for waste clearance through the processes of osmosis and diffusion. This statement accurately reflects one of the fundamental principles of CAPD, where the peritoneal cavity is filled with a dialysate solution that absorbs waste products from the blood across the peritoneal membrane, effectively performing the functions of dialysis without needing external machines for the same.

In CAPD, solutes and excess fluids move through the peritoneum into the dialysate based on concentration gradients, illustrating the role of passive transport mechanisms (osmosis and diffusion) during the treatment. This understanding is critical for patients to grasp how their waste elimination is achieved, depending on the body’s natural processes in conjunction with the dialysis treatment.

Other options do not accurately represent the principles of CAPD. For instance, regular contact of blood with a dialyzer, frequent sessions without immobilization, and high-pressure filtration are more characteristic of other dialysis modalities rather than specifically describing the function and purpose of CAPD, which relies on the body’s own peritoneal membrane instead. Understanding these distinctions is essential for clients undergoing treatment.