A bedside alternative to the LeVeen peritoneovenous shunt for the management of ascites is described. The bedside technique has several advantages over the LeVeen shunt, including ease of insertion and lower cost. In addition, the bedside shunt provides precise control over the volume of ascites infused into the vascular space and aids in the timing of diuretic administration. The bedside system may be definitive short-term therapy for ascites, or it could predict which patient will respond successfully to a LeVeen shunt.