Final answer:
Continuous venovenous hemodialysis is a procedure that combines ultrafiltration, convection, and dialysis to remove plasma water and solutes effectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Continuous venovenous hemodialysis (CVVHD) is a medical procedure used for patients with acute kidney failure. It serves primarily to remove plasma water and solutes by adding dialysate, combining ultrafiltration, convection, and dialysis to cleanse the blood. During the CVVHD process, patient's blood passes through a filter where it is cleaned by the dialysate in a continuous cycle. The semipermeable membrane within the filter allows waste products like urea and excess water to pass from the blood into the dialysate, while larger molecules like red and white blood cells remain in the bloodstream.
So, the correct answer to the student's question is "4) combine ultrafiltration, convection and dialysis." This incorporates all the essential functions of CVVHD, which include removing fluids and solutes through both diffusion and convection, managing volume overload by removing plasma water, and cleansing the blood using dialysate.