An intercostal-pump based fluid management system, as described herein, comprises an intercostal pump that is, generally, a resiliently flexible bulb having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is attached to a first tube that extends from the intercostal pump to a first area of a patients body, for example, the patients pleural cavity. The outlet is connected to a second tube that extends from the intercostal pump to a second area of a patients body, for example, the patients peritoneal cavity. Upon operation of the intercostal pump, fluid is transferred from the first area of the patients body to the second area. In use, the intercostal pump is placed between a first rib and a second rib in a patient. The intercostal pump operates by being successively compressed and decompressed between the first and second ribs as the patient breaths. As the patient inhales, the patients rib cage expands and the intercostal pump is decompressed. As the patient exhales, the patients rib cage contracts and the intercostal pump is compressed.
