What type of therapy involves the use of an external device to filter blood?

Hemodialysis is the correct type of therapy that involves the use of an external device to filter blood. In this process, blood is drawn out of the body and passed through a dialysis machine, which contains a filter (the dialyzer) that removes waste products, excess salts, and fluids. After the filtering process, the cleaned blood is returned to the body. This therapy is primarily used for patients with kidney failure, where their kidneys can no longer effectively filter waste from the blood.

In contrast, peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of the abdomen to filter blood rather than an external device. Fluid resuscitation involves administering fluids to maintain blood circulation and hydration, rather than filtering blood. Antibiotic therapy is related to treating infections by using medications that kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria, which does not involve blood filtration. Understanding these distinctions clarifies why hemodialysis is specifically associated with the use of an external device for blood filtration.