What is a dangerous effect of rapidly warming a hypothermic postoperative patient?

Rapidly warming a hypothermic postoperative patient can lead to vasodilation and hypotension. When the body’s temperature rises too quickly, the blood vessels expand (vasodilation), which can cause a significant drop in blood pressure (hypotension). This rapid change can overwhelm the cardiovascular system, which may not be able to handle the sudden increase in blood volume within the dilated vessels, leading to inadequate perfusion of vital organs.

Maintaining a controlled and gradual rewarming process helps to avoid these dramatic shifts in blood flow and pressure, ensuring the patient stabilizes adequately without putting additional strain on their body during recovery. In contrast, other options might relate to different physiological responses but do not reflect the immediate and critical effect of rapid rewarming in a hypothermic state.