In 1979,it was demonstrated in a sheep model that immediate cooling reduced acute oedema, but cooling delayed by 2 min increased oedema compared to no cooling,
supporting the thermal energy removal mechanism hypothesis,
as temperatures rapidly return to normal after a thermal injury.
Blomgren et al.
found that application of water at 8 oC for 30 min immediately following the scald was the most effective in oedema reduction when compared to other durations.
A scalded rat paw model showed that best reduction
in oedema was achieved with 0 Ringer's solution for 120 min,
with 20 °C Ringer's solution worsening oedema compared to controls, possibly from a hyperaemic response.