Small volumes of hypertonic NaCl-solutions have been proven to restore haemodynamics in hypovolemic shock patients. Topic of this study was to investigate whether bolus application of 7.5% NaCl-6.5% starch-solution (HSS) apart from its relevance in shock might be an effective therapy in oedema. Considering differential therapeutic aspects, the volume effects of 7.2 ml HSS were tested in three types of oedema: hydrostatic oedema induced by venous congestion (n = 6), oedema caused by bradykinin injection (n = 6), and proteinase-induced oedema (n = 6). The arterial, venous pressure and weight changes indicating volume shifts between intra- and extravascular space were continuously monitored in 36 isolated perfused rabbit hindlimbs. Oedema formation was induced corresponding to a weight gain of 18-20 g. Subsequently 7.2 ml HSS were injected into the extracorporeal circulation system containing 200 ml cell free, isoosmotic perfusate. Six experiments of each oedema group without HSS-application served as controls. 75-100% of oedema formation could be remobilised via bolus application of HSS within 5 min in all types of oedema. A persisting weight reduction was detectable in the hydrostatic and bradykinin oedema, whereas in the elastase oedema the initial weight loss was followed by a regain of weight up to 180% of initial oedema formation at 120 min after HSS-application. The results show that, due to the osmotic gradient induced by bolus application of HSS, the hydrostatic and bradykinin oedema can be permanently remobilised, whereas the therapeutic effect during proteinase oedema is only short-lasting due to an irreversible damage of barrier function.