About APGAR Score
When to Use
Used to assess newborns at 1 and 5 minutes after birth, with possible additional measurements at 10, 15, or 20 minutes if score remains low.
Pearls/Pitfalls
- Not designed to predict mortality or neurologic outcome
- Should not be used alone to diagnose asphyxia
- Many factors can affect scores including medications, trauma, and congenital conditions
Why Use
Provides standardized assessment of newborn adaptation to extrauterine life and response to resuscitation if needed.
About the Creator
Dr. Virginia Apgar
Dr. Virginia Apgar (1909-1974) was an American physician who developed the APGAR score in 1952. This scoring system has become the global standard for assessing newborn health in the first minutes of life.
She was the first woman to become a full professor at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and made significant contributions to the fields of anesthesiology and pediatrics.