Apgar

Apgar Score The Apgar Score is a quick test performed on a newborn baby at 1 and 5 minutes after birth. The 1-minute score determines how well the baby tolerated the birthing process, and the 5-minute score tells the healthcare provider how well the baby is doing outside the mother's womb. The test was developed by Virginia Apgar, an American obstetrical anesthetist, in 1952.

Components of the Apgar Score

The Apgar Score assesses five criteria, each of which is given a score between 0 and 2, with 2 being the best score. The five criteria are:

• Appearance (skin color)
• Pulse (heart rate)
• Grimace response (reflexes)
• Activity (muscle tone)
• Respiration (breathing rate and effort)

The scores for each criterion are then summed to obtain a total score ranging from 0 to 10.

Appearance (Skin Color)

• 0 points: Blue or pale all over
• 1 point: Blue at extremities, body pink
• 2 points: Completely pink

Pulse (Heart Rate)

• 0 points: Absent
• 1 point: Below 100 beats per minute
• 2 points: Over 100 beats per minute

Grimace Response (Reflexes)

• 0 points: No response to stimulation
• 1 point: Grimace or feeble cry when stimulated
• 2 points: Sneezing, coughing, or pulling away when stimulated

Activity (Muscle Tone)

• 0 points: Limp
• 1 point: Some flexion of arms and legs
• 2 points: Active motion

Respiration (Breathing Rate and Effort)

• 0 points: Absent
• 1 point: Slow or irregular breathing
• 2 points: Good, strong cry

Interpretation of Scores

• 0-3: Critically low, immediate resuscitation required
• 4-6: Fairly low, may require some resuscitative measures
• 7-10: Generally normal, baby is in good health

History

The Apgar Score was introduced by Virginia Apgar in 1952 and has since become a standard practice in hospitals worldwide. It was initially designed to quickly assess the health of newborns and determine the need for immediate medical intervention.

Related Pages

• Virginia Apgar
• Neonatology
• Childbirth
• Pediatrics
• Obstetrics