Fluid management systems and methods

A method of managing fluid loss from an inflated body cavity, the method comprising:

• positioning a pair of electrodes adjacent to a volume of a fluid contained within a fluid reservoir, the pair of electrodes electrically connected to a controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive signals from the pair of electrodes;
• determining whether the fluid in a fluid reservoir is an ionic fluid or a non-ionic fluid based on capacitance signals received by the controller from the pair of electrodes,
• wherein the controller determines that the fluid in the fluid reservoir is an ionic fluid if the capacitance is lower than a threshold, and
• wherein the controller determines that the fluid in the fluid reservoir is a non-ionic fluid if the capacitance is greater than or equal to the threshold;
• setting a fluid deficit alarm signal based on a determination of whether the fluid in the fluid reservoir is an ionic fluid or a non-ionic fluid,
• wherein a fluid loss alarm threshold has a first value if the controller determined the that the fluid in the fluid reservoir is an ionic fluid and the fluid loss alarm threshold has a second value if the controller determined that the fluid in the fluid reservoir is a non-ionic fluid, wherein the first value and the second value are different;
• determining a fluid loss parameter equal to a difference between a first measured quantity of fluid supplied to a site within a body and a second measured quantity of fluid removed from the site within the body;
• comparing the fluid loss parameter to the fluid loss alarm threshold;
• and
• outputting an alarm signal when the fluid loss parameter is greater than the fluid loss alarm threshold.