METHOD FOR PERITONEAL REMOVAL OF ELECTROLYTES AND INFLAMMATORY MEDIATORS

1 . A method of peritoneal removal of electrolytes and inflammatory mediators, the method comprising:

infusing a treatment solution into the peritoneal cavity of a patient by way of a catheter;

draining, by way of the catheter, the treatment solution from the peritoneal cavity; and

filtering electrolytes and inflammatory mediators from the treatment solution while the treatment solution is draining.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein filtering electrolytes and inflammatory mediators further comprises:

positioning a filter in fluid communication with the catheter, the filter comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; and

a filler within the lumen of the filter, the filler configured to remove electrolytes, inflammatory mediators, or both by size exclusion.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of:

a polymer, a resin, or diffusion tubes configured to remove inflammatory mediators.

4 . The method of claim 2 , the filler comprising a binding agent configured to selectively bind electrolytes, inflammatory mediators, or both.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the binding agent is selected from the group consisting of:

a polymer, a resin, or diffusion tubes configured to remove inflammatory mediators.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein infusing the treatment solution further comprises:

a treatment solution container fluidically coupled to a distal end of the catheter, the treatment solution container configured to support the treatment solution.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein infusing the treatment solution further comprises:

elevating the treatment solution container above an infusion site of the patient.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein draining the treatment solution further comprises:

lowering the treatment solution container below an infusion site of the patient.

9 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

elevating the treatment solution container above an infusion site of the patient for infusing the treatment solution; and

lowering the treatment solution container below the infusion site for draining the treatment solution.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment solution comprises:

saline; and

a binding agent configured to selectively bind electrolytes, inflammatory mediators, or both.

11 . A method of peritoneal removal of electrolytes and inflammatory mediators, the method comprising:

elevating a treatment solution container above an infusion site of the patient;

while elevating, infusing a treatment solution from the treatment solution into the peritoneal cavity of the patient by way of a catheter;

lowering the treatment solution container below the infusion site for draining the treatment solution;

while lowering, draining, by way of the catheter, the treatment solution from the peritoneal cavity; and

filtering electrolytes and inflammatory mediators from the treatment solution during the infusing, during the draining, or both.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein filtering electrolytes and inflammatory mediators further comprises:

positioning a filter in fluid communication with the catheter, the filter comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; and

a filler within the lumen of the filter, the filler configured to remove electrolytes, inflammatory mediators, or both.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of:

a polymer, a resin, or diffusion tubes configured to remove inflammatory mediators.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein filtering electrolytes and inflammatory mediators further comprises:

positioning a filter in fluid communication with the catheter, the filter comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; and

a filler within the lumen of the filter, the filler comprising a binding agent configured to selectively bind electrolytes, inflammatory mediators, or both.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the binding agent is selected from the group consisting of:

a polymer, a resin, or diffusion tubes configured to remove inflammatory mediators.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the treatment solution comprises:

saline; and

a binding agent configured to selectively bind electrolytes, inflammatory mediators, or both.

17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

re-instilling the treatment solution by, again, elevating the treatment solution container above the infusion site.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

again draining the treatment solution by again lowering the treatment solution container to below the infusion site.

19 . A method of peritoneal removal of electrolytes and inflammatory mediators, the method comprising:

implanting a filter cartridge in the peritoneal cavity of a patient;

infusing a treatment solution into the peritoneal cavity of a patient; and

drawing the treatment solution from the peritoneal cavity through the filter cartridge;

wherein the filter cartridge comprises a binding agent enclosed within a porous surgical packing material.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein drawing the treatment solution further comprises:

pulling the treatment solution from the peritoneal cavity by way of a would drain.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the wound drain is fluidically coupled to a pump.

22 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

re-instilling the treatment solution into the peritoneal cavity.

23 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the binding agent is configured to selectively bind electrolytes, inflammatory mediators, or both.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the binding agent is selected from the group consisting of:

a polymer, a resin, or diffusion tubes configured to remove inflammatory mediators.