Systematic review and meta-analysis of fluid therapy protocols in acute pancreatitis: type, rate and route

Adequate fluid resuscitation is paramount in the management of acute pancreatitis (AP). The aim of this study is to assess benefits and harms of fluid therapy protocols in patients with AP.

MEDLINE, Embase, Science Citation Index and clinical trial registries were searched for randomised clinical trials published before May 2020, assessing types of fluids, routes and rates of administration.

A total 15 trials (1073 participants) were included. Age ranged from 38 to 73 years; follow-up period ranged from 0.5 to 6 months. Ringer lactate (RL) showed a reduced number of severe adverse events (SAE) when compared to normal saline (NS) (OR 0.48; 95%CI 0.29-0.81, p = 0.006); additionally, NS showed reduced SAE (RR 0.38; 95%IC 0.27-0.54, p < 0.001) and organ failure (RR 0.30; 95%CI 0.21-0.44, p < 0.001) in comparison with hydroxyethyl starch (HES). High fluid rate fluid infusion showed increased mortality (OR 2.88; 95%CI 1.41-5.88, p = 0.004), increased number of SAE (RR 1.42; 95%CI 1.04-1.93, p = 0.030) and higher incidence of sepsis (RR 2.80; 95%CI 1.51-5.19, p = 0.001) compared to moderate fluid rate infusion.

In patients with AP, RL should be preferred over NS and HES should not be recommended. Based on low-certainty evidence, moderate-rate fluid infusion should be preferred over high-rate infusion.