Apgar score
Scale for the health of newborns
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Key Takeaways
- The Apgar score is a quick way for health professionals to evaluate the health of all newborns at one and five minutes after birth and in response to resuscitation.
- Today, the categories developed by Apgar used to assess the health of a newborn remain largely the same as in 1952, though the way they are implemented and used has evolved over the years.
- For each criterion, newborns can receive a score from 0 to 2.
- Criteria Interpretation Various members of the healthcare team, including midwives, nurses, or physicians, may be involved in the Apgar scoring of a neonate.
- Scores of seven and above are generally normal; four to six, fairly low; and three and below are generally regarded as critically low and cause for immediate resuscitative efforts.
The Apgar score is a quick way for health professionals to evaluate the health of all newborns at one and five minutes after birth and in response to resuscitation. It was originally developed in 1952 by an anesthesiologist at Columbia University, Virginia Apgar, to address the need for a standardized way to evaluate infants shortly after birth.
Today, the categories developed by Apgar used to assess the health of a newborn remain largely the same as in 1952, though the way they are implemented and used has evolved over the years. The score is determined through the evaluation of the newborn in five criteria: appearance, pulse, grimace, activity (tone), and respiration. For each criterion, newborns can receive a score from 0 to 2. The list of criteria is a backronym of Apgar's surname.
Criteria
Interpretation
Various members of the healthcare team, including midwives, nurses, or physicians, may be involved in the Apgar scoring of a neonate. The test is generally done at one and five minutes after birth and may be repeated later if the score is and remains low. Scores of seven and above are generally normal; four to six, fairly low; and three and below are generally regarded as critically low and cause for immediate resuscitative efforts.
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