THE APGAR SCORING SYSTEM

 

SIGN	0	1	2
Color	Blue or pale	Acrocynotic	Complex pink
Heart rate	Absent	Less than 100 bpm	More than 100 bpm
Reflex activity response to stimulation	No response	Grimace	Cry or active withdrawal
Muscle tone	Limp	Some flexion	Active motion
Respirations	Absent	Weak cry; hypoventilatio	Good, crying

INTRODUCTION: The Apgar scoring system is commonly used as an objective means to assess the newborn’s condition. In this system, five signs are given scores of 0, 1, or 2, for a total of up to 10. Scores are assigned at 1 minute and 5 minutes, and at every 5 minutes until 20 minutes thereafter if the 5-minute Apgar score is less than 7. Although these continued assessments are not part of the original Apgar scoring system, many clinicians find them to be of value in evaluating how an infant is responding to resuscitation.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE APGAR SCORE: In the term and late-preterm infant, a 5-minute Apgar score of 7 to 10 is reassuring; a 5-minute score of 4 to 6 is considered indicative of a mildly to moderately depressed infant; and a 5-minute score of less than 4 is suggestive of a severely depressed infant. It should be noted however that, the Apgar score should not be used to define birth asphyxia, because it is not designed to do so and, it does not provide such information.

Although a low 1-minute Apgar score identifies the newborn that requires particular attention, it does not predict any individual infant’s outcome. The 5-minute Apgar score can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of any resuscitative efforts that have been undertaken or to identify an infant who needs continuing evaluation and management. It too should not be used to predict neurologic outcome in term infants.

RELATED;

1.  PREGNANCY AND CHILD BIRTH

2.  RHESUS DISEASE OF THE NEWBORN

3.  DRUG USE IN RELATION TO PREGNANCY

REFERENCES