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.