Apgar score

A rapid assessment of a newborn’s condition made immediately after birth and again 5 min later. Named after Virginia Apgar, who devised the test.

An evaluation of the condition of a newborn; a summary using a five-factor rating scale, with each factor given zero, one, or two points and a top score of 10 points. The evaluation is normally done a minute after birth and then again five minutes after birth, with both scores noted on the baby’s medical record. The aim of the Apgar score is to identify as quickly as possible babies with special problems that may call for immediate treatment or transfer to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A newborn with a score of eight to 10 is regarded as being in excellent condition (10 is rare). A score of 5 to 7 suggests some mild problems, while a lower score indicates need for immediate intervention, such as resuscitation. Sometimes the second score is much higher because a problem is only temporary, as when the medical staff clears mucus from an obstructed air passage.

Evaluation of the infant’s physical condition usually made one minute after birth and then repeated five minutes after birth. Five factors heart rate, muscle tone, respiratory effort, color, and reflex irritability are scored from a low of 0 to a normal of 2 and the five scores combined to give a total score of 0 to 10. In general, a total score below 7 indicates distress.

A scoring system used by doctors to assess the need for resuscitation and care of a baby at 1 minute after birth and again at 5 minutes after birth. To arrive at the Apgar score, the doctor evaluates five signs of the baby’s condition: heart rate, breathing and crying, skin color, muscle tone, and reflexes. In the case of babies who are not white-skinned, skin color is scored by examining the soles of the feet, the palms of the hands, the whites of the eyes, and the insides of the mouth and lips. Each of the five signs is given a score from 0 to 2, and the scores are added up to make the baby’s total Apgar score. The total score ranges from o to 10. Babies who have endured a long or difficult delivery may have low Apgar scores and may require medical attention right after birth. Apgar scores alone are of limited value in predicting long-term outcomes.

A method of rapidly assessing the general slate of a baby immediately after birth. A maximum of 2 points is given for each of the following signs: type of breathing, heart rate, color, muscle tone, and response lo stimuli. Thus an infant scoring 10 points at 60 minutes after delivery would be in optimum condition. When the score is low, the test is repealed at intervals as a guide lo progress.

A method of assessing at birth whether or not a baby requires resuscitation. The newborn is routinely assessed at 1 minute of age and again at 5 minutes, and a value of 0, 1 or 2 given to each of five signs: colour, heart rate, muscle tone, respiratory (or breathing) effort, and the 22 response to stimulation. A total score of 7 or more indicates that the newborn child is in excellent condition. An Apgar score of 5 or less at 15 or 20 minutes predicates an increased risk of subsequent cerebral palsy.

A system for evaluating an infant’s physical condition at birth. The infant’s heart rate, respiration, muscle tone, response to stimuli, and color are rated at 1 min, and again at 5 min after birth. Each factor is scored 0, 1, or 2; the maximum total score is 10. Interpretation of scores: 7 to 10, good to excellent; 4 to 6, fair; less than 4, poor condition. A low score at 1 min is a sign of perinatal asphyxia and the need for immediate assisted ventilation. Infants with scores below 7 at 5 min should be assessed again in 5 more min; scores less than 6 at any time may indicate need for resuscitation. In depressed infants, a more accurate determination of the degree of fetal hypoxia may be obtained by direct measures of umbilical cord blood oxygen, carbon dioxide partial pressure, and pH.

A scale that rates a newborn’s heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, ability to react to a stimulus, and skin color.