A medical fluid filter system includes a housing having a liquid trap chamber having a volume, a filter media chamber, and a filter media arranged within the filter media chamber. The liquid trap chamber has a liquid trap outlet port in fluid communication with the filter media chamber. The liquid trap outlet port is configured and arranged within the liquid trap chamber to inhibit flow of liquid from the liquid trap chamber to the filter media chamber and configured and arranged to allow gas to flow from the liquid trap chamber to the filter media chamber. A filter system inlet passes through the housing for intake of fluid originating from a surgical site, and a filter system outlet passes through the housing for fluid exhaust.