Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

diachronic
Over a period of time. The opposite
of synchronic.
diachronic study
See 
longitudinal study.
diagnosis
Knowledge of the nature of a disease.
A patient who speaks of “getting a diagnosis” means
learning the medical name for the ailment and gain-
ing an understanding of the condition. Abbreviated
dx and Dx. See also 
differential diagnosis.
diagnosis, differential
See 
differential diag-
nosis.
dialysis
The process of cleansing the blood by
passing it through a special machine. Dialysis is
necessary when the kidneys are not able to filter the
blood. It gives patients with kidney failure a chance
to live productive lives. There are two types of dial-
ysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. A
hemodialysis session generally takes about 4 hours,
and patients typically visit a dialysis clinic one to
three times per week. Peritoneal dialysis allows the
patient to do dialysis at home. Each type of dialysis
has advantages and disadvantages. Patients can
often choose the type of long-term dialysis that best
matches their needs. See also 
dialysis, peritoneal.
dialysis, peritoneal
A dialysis technique that
uses the patient’s own body tissues inside the belly
(abdominal cavity) as a filter. The intestines lie in
the abdominal cavity, the space between the abdom-
inal wall and the spine. A plastic tube called a dial-
ysis catheter is placed through the abdominal wall
and into the abdominal cavity. A saline fluid called
dialysate is then flushed into the abdominal cavity so
that it washes around the intestines. The intestinal
walls act as a filter between this fluid and the blood-
stream. By using different types of solutions, waste
products and excess water can be removed from the
body through this process.