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
|
|
muslce tone
|
limp
|
0
|
|
|
some flexion of extremities
|
1
|
|
|
active
|
2
|
• 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.