Why is rapid rewarming dangerous when treating severe hypothermia?

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Rapid rewarming in severe hypothermia is dangerous because cold blood from the body's extremities can rush back to the heart and core as the outer tissues are warmed. This afterdrop can drive the core temperature down further even as you’re trying to warm the patient, and it can destabilize the heart, increasing the risk of dangerous rhythm disturbances or cardiovascular collapse. At the same time, quick warming causes peripheral blood vessels to dilate rapidly, which can drop central blood pressure and trigger cardiovascular shock in someone whose circulation is already compromised by the extreme cold. Because of these risks, rewarming is done gradually and with controlled methods to avoid these complications.