BACKGROUND: Fluid resuscitation represents a pivotal early therapeutic intervention in the management of acute pancreatitis (AP), yet a consensus on the optimal fluid type remains elusive. The present study endeavors to elucidate the differential effects of lactated Ringer's solution (LR) and normal saline (NS) in the initial treatment of AP. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted through the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases, spanning from inception until July 2024. The primary outcome of interest was the likelihood of developing moderate-to-severe AP. RESULTS: This meta-analysis synthesized evidence from six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and four observational studies, involving a total of 1500 AP patients. Patients were stratified into two groups based on the administered fluid: LR (n = 689) and NS (n = 811). Our findings revealed that, compared to the NS group, patients in the LR group demonstrated a significantly lower risk of moderate-to-severe acute pancreatitis (OR 0.48
95%Cl 0.34 to 0.67
P <
0.001
I2 = 0%), a shorter hospital stay (MD = - 0.74, 95% CI -1.20 to -0.28, P = 0.001
I2 = 0%), and a reduced ICU admission rate (RR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.20-0.89, P = 0.02
I2 = 0%). Moreover, the LR group also showed a lower incidence of local complications (RR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.34-0.98, P = 0.04). Conversely, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of mortality, organ failure rates, Fluid administered 24 h, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis underscores the superior efficacy of Lactated Ringer's (LR) solution in comparison to Normal Saline (NS). It provides compelling evidence of LR's ability to significantly mitigate the onset of moderate to severe pancreatitis. Additionally, our findings reveal that LR is associated with a reduced need for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions, a lower incidence of local complications, and a shorter overall hospital stay, thereby offering a more favorable clinical outcome. However, no notable differences were discerned in other complications. Subgroup analyses further suggest LR's potential to curb pancreatic necrosis and other indices, albeit these findings necessitate corroboration through extensive experimentation.