APGAR Scoring

• Why is APGAR scoring used?


  Quickly assess state of a newborn
• What are the components of APGAR?


  Appearance - colour of the child

  Pulse

  Grimace - response to stimulation

  Activity

  Respiration
• APGAR Scoring


  Appearance

  • 2 = pink baby
  • 1 = blue peripherally, pink centrally
  • 0 = blue baby

  Pulse

  • 2 = > 100 bpm
  • 1 = < 100 bpm
  • 0 = non-detectable HR

  Grimace

  • 2 = crying
  • 1 = grimace
  • 0 = no response

  Activity

  • 2 = flexed limbs that resist extension
  • 1 = some flexion
  • 0 = floppy baby

  Respiration

  • 2 = strong cry
  • 1 = weak cry
  • 0 = no resp effort

  Score:

  =/> 7 neonate is in good health

  4-6 moderately abnormal

  =/< 3 low
• When are newborns assessed using APGAR?


  1 minute and 5 minutes
• NOTE: A low APGAR score at 1 minute does not necessarily indicate a poor outcome, a low APGAR score at 5 minutes is associated with neonatal mortality