A body fluid drainage system (100, 150, 700, 800, 850), comprising: a catheter (102, 702, 802, 892) having an exterior surface, a proximal portion (108a, 708a, 808a, 894a) and a distal portion (108b, 708b, 808b, 894b) opposite the proximal portion (108a, 708a, 808a, 894a), wherein the proximal portion (108a, 708a, 808a, 894a) includes an inlet (116, 238) configured to be in fluid communication with a site of excess body fluid in a patient (101, 801); a valve device (104, 704) having an actuator (230, 330, 360, 362, 366, 369) over the exterior surface of the catheter (102, 702, 802, 892) mounted in a housing and configured to change resistance to flow through the catheter (102, 702, 802, 892); at least one pressure sensor (106, 236, 784) positioned upstream or downstream of and proximate to the valve device (104, 704) and configured to take pressure measurements used to derive a pressure in the catheter (102, 702, 802, 892) at a desired location along the catheter (102, 702, 802, 892) and spaced apart from the pressure sensor (106, 236, 784), wherein the at least one pressure sensor (106, 236, 784) is configured to measure pressure within the catheter (102, 702, 802, 892); a pressure reference line coupled to the drainage system (100, 150, 700, 800, 850) and configured to measure a pressure head between a desired reference location and the at least one pressure sensor (106, 236, 784); and a controller (110, 710) mounted in the housing and operatively coupled to the valve device (104, 704) and the at least one pressure sensor (106, 236, 784), wherein the controller (110, 710) is configured to use pressure measurements from the at least one pressure sensor (106, 236, 784) to increase and decrease the resistance to flow in response to a predetermined condition of the at least one pressure sensor (106, 236, 784) and wherein the housing is configured to be positioned apart from the patient. a catheter (102, 702, 802, 892) having an exterior surface, a proximal portion (108a, 708a, 808a, 894a) and a distal portion (108b, 708b, 808b, 894b) opposite the proximal portion (108a, 708a, 808a, 894a), wherein the proximal portion (108a, 708a, 808a, 894a) includes an inlet (116, 238) configured to be in fluid communication with a site of excess body fluid in a patient (101, 801); a valve device (104, 704) having an actuator (230, 330, 360, 362, 366, 369) over the exterior surface of the catheter (102, 702, 802, 892) mounted in a housing and configured to change resistance to flow through the catheter (102, 702, 802, 892); at least one pressure sensor (106, 236, 784) positioned upstream or downstream of and proximate to the valve device (104, 704) and configured to take pressure measurements used to derive a pressure in the catheter (102, 702, 802, 892) at a desired location along the catheter (102, 702, 802, 892) and spaced apart from the pressure sensor (106, 236, 784), wherein the at least one pressure sensor (106, 236, 784) is configured to measure pressure within the catheter (102, 702, 802, 892); a pressure reference line coupled to the drainage system (100, 150, 700, 800, 850) and configured to measure a pressure head between a desired reference location and the at least one pressure sensor (106, 236, 784); and a controller (110, 710) mounted in the housing and operatively coupled to the valve device (104, 704) and the at least one pressure sensor (106, 236, 784), wherein the controller (110, 710) is configured to use pressure measurements from the at least one pressure sensor (106, 236, 784) to increase and decrease the resistance to flow in response to a predetermined condition of the at least one pressure sensor (106, 236, 784) and wherein the housing is configured to be positioned apart from the patient.