# Afterdrop

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{{Short description|Further lowering of core body temperature after cold exposure after reheating has started}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Oxford spelling|date=June 2025}}

'''Afterdrop''' refers to the continued cooling of [core body temperature](/source/core_body_temperature) during the initial stages of rewarming from [hypothermia](/source/hypothermia).<ref name="Savard 1985"/> This phenomenon is primarily attributed to peripheral [vasodilation](/source/vasodilation), a process in which blood vessels near the skin's surface dilate, allowing cold blood from the extremities to return to the core. This return of cold blood results in a further decrease in deep body temperature.<ref name="Savard 1985"/> Another explanation involves [heat conduction](/source/heat_conduction), where the body cools from the outside in, creating a temperature gradient from the warm core to the cool periphery. This gradient allows the continued transfer of heat from the core to peripheral tissues during rewarming.<ref name="EBMedicine"/>

In severe cases, afterdrop can lead to post-rescue collapse, where patients may experience cardiovascular instability or [cardiac arrest](/source/cardiac_arrest).<ref name="Hypothermia.org"/> However, the clinical significance of afterdrop varies, as it does not always result in severe outcomes for every individual undergoing rewarming from hypothermia.<ref name="EBMedicine"/> Afterdrop is more prevalent among individuals who have been rapidly cooled or rewarmed, and less common in those who experienced slow and prolonged cooling or delayed rewarming.<ref name="Webb 1986"/>

The management of hypothermia and prevention of afterdrop involve carefully monitored rewarming techniques. Passive external rewarming, which uses the body's own heat production by providing insulation and a warm environment, is often recommended for mild cases of hypothermia. For more severe cases, active external rewarming methods such as warm water immersion, heating pads, or forced-air warming systems may be used to gradually raise core temperature while minimising the risk of exacerbating afterdrop.<ref name="EBMedicine"/> Active internal rewarming, involving methods such as warm [intravenous](/source/Intravenous_therapy) fluids and [extracorporeal](/source/extracorporeal_procedure) blood warming, is employed in controlled medical settings to manage body temperature effectively and limit the potential for afterdrop by reducing the temperature gradient between the core and periphery.<ref name="EBMedicine"/>

In [emergency medical care](/source/Emergency_medicine), training and awareness about afterdrop are important for [first responder](/source/first_responder)s and [medical personnel](/source/medical_personnel). Educating rescuers on potential afterdrop and appropriate rewarming strategies can significantly improve patient outcomes. Public awareness campaigns about hypothermia prevention and treatment can help at-risk populations, such as outdoor enthusiasts and those in cold climates, to better prepare for and respond to cold exposure.<ref name="Hypothermia.org"/>

==References==
<references>

<ref name="Savard 1985">{{cite journal |last1=Savard |first1=G.K. |last2=Cooper |first2=K.E. |last3=Veale |first3=W.L. |last4=Malkinson |first4=T.J. |year=1985 |title=Peripheral blood flow during rewarming from mild hypothermia in humans |journal=Journal of Applied Physiology |volume=58 |issue=1 |pages=4–13 |doi=10.1152/jappl.1985.58.1.4|pmid=3968020 }}</ref>

<ref name="EBMedicine">{{cite web |last1=Rischall |first1=Megan L. |last2=Rowland-Fischer |first2=Andrea |title=Treating Mild, Moderate & Severe Hypothermia In The Emergency Room: Rewarming Techniques, Active Rewarming |website=EB Medicine 2016 |date=1 January 2016 |url=https://www.ebmedicine.net/topics/toxicology-environmental/accidental-hypothermia |access-date=16 June 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="Hypothermia.org">{{cite web |title=Hypothermia, prevention, recognition, treating hypothermia: A life saving skill |url=http://www.hypothermia.org/hypothermia.htm |access-date=January 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981202210810/http://hypothermia.org/hypothermia.htm |archive-date=December 2, 1998 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Webb 1986">{{cite journal |last1=Webb |first1=P. |year=1986 |title=Afterdrop of body temperature during rewarming: An alternative explanation |journal=Journal of Applied Physiology |volume=60 |issue=2 |pages=385–390 |doi=10.1152/jappl.1986.60.2.385|pmid=3949643 }}</ref>

</references>

Category:Medical emergencies

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Afterdrop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afterdrop) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afterdrop?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.