APGAR Scoring System
The APGAR Scoring System was developed by Dr. Virginia APGAR as a method of assessing the newborn’s adjustment to extrauterine life. It is taken at one minute and five minutes after birth. With depressed infants, repeat scoring every five minutes as needed. The one minute score indicates the necessity for resuscitation. The five minute score is more reliable in predicting mortality and neurologic deficits. The most important is the heart rate, then the respiratory rate, the muscle tone, reflex irritability and color follows in decreasing order. A heart rate below 100 signifies an asphyxiated baby and a heart rate above 160 signifies distress.
| Assess | 0 | 1 | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance (Skin color) | Blue all over | Body pink, extremities blue | Pink all over |
| Pulse (Heart Rate) | Absent | Below 100 | Above 100 |
| Grimace (Reflex Irritability) | No Response | Grimace | Vigorous cry |
| Activity (Muscle Tone) | Flaccid | Some flexion | Active motion |
| Respiration (Breathing) | Absent | Slow | Good crying |
SCORE:
- 7-10 Good adjustment, vigorous
- Moderately depressed infant, needs airway clearance
- Severely depressed infant, in need of resuscitation
Exam
Choose the letter of the correct answer. Good luck!
Congratulations - you have completed APGAR Scoring System Practice Exam (PM)*. You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%. Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%
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