The Apgar scoring system is used to assess newborn infants for depression of cardiopulmonary and neurological function. Scoring is done at 1 and 5 minutes after birth.
Parameter
Finding
Points
color
blue, pale
0
body pink, extremities blue
1
all pink
2
heart rate
absent
0
< 100
1
> 100 (will use >= 100)
2
respiration
absent
0
irregular, slow
1
good, crying
2
reflex response to nose catheter
none
0
grimace
1
sneeze, cough
2
muscle tone
limp
0
some flexion of extremities
1
active
2
Apgar score =
= SUM(points for all 5 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 10
• The lower the score the more profoundly affected the infant is, with scores under 5 considered serious.
• A low initial scores with no improvement in the 5 minute score is associated with neonatal problems including death.
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