The initial treatment of uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock from an abdominal source is controversial. The hemodynamic effects of transfemoral diaphragmatic aortic occlusion with a balloon followed by a single bolus of hypertonic saline solutions have been evaluated in 28 dogs. The animals were submitted to pressure-driven hemorrhage for 90 min, according to mean arterial pressure in the abdominal aorta and randomized into four groups, according to the treatment employed at 34 min after hemorrhage. Group 1 dogs (controls) received isotonic NaCl (0.9%, 308 mOsm/l, 4 ml/kg) without aortic occlusion; group 2 underwent aortic occlusion and received isotonic NaCl (0.9%, 308mOsm/l, 4 ml/kg); group 3 were occluded and received hypertonic NaCl (7.5%, 2400mOsm/l, 4 ml/kg); group 4 were occluded and received hypertonic sodium acetate (10.5%, 2400mOsm/l, 4 ml/kg). There were no significant differences between groups at basal measures and also after 30 min of continuous bleeding, when animals presented with severe shock, and significant decreases in mean arterial pressure, cardiac index, systolic index and cardiac filling pressures; the systemic vascular resistance index was increased. Control animals remained in severe shock throughout the experiment and three died. The recovery of mean arterial pressure in aortic-occluded dogs given isotonic NaCl was associated with a marked increase in systemic vascular resistance index, without improvements in cardiac index, systolic index and cardiac filling pressures. In occluded dogs given hypertonic NaCl and NaAc the mean arterial pressure recovery lasted longer, with lower increases in systemic vascular resistance index, while the cardiac index, systolic index and cardiac filling pressures showed a marked albeit transient increase. Injection of hypertonic saline following aortic occlusion produced significantly better hemodynamic profiles and should be seriously considered for the first treatment in severe uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock from an abdominal vascular source.