Afterdrop

Afterdrop is the fall in the patient's core temperature after the initiation of rewarming.

Although the exact mechanism for the afterdrop is somewhat controversial, the most likely explanation is that the rewarming of peripheral sites and the abated vasoconstriction results in the return of cool blood to the central circulation from the peripheral circulation.

Afterdrop may cause a temporary worsening of the physiological parameters and increase the likelihood of dysrhythmia or cardiac arrest.