Apgar Scoring: Its Use and Meaning for Today's Newborn

Apgar scoring is a common and accepted practice used for evaluating newborns immediately after delivery. After its development by Dr. Virginia Apgar in the late 1940s/early 1950s, its use and meaning have evolved over the past five decades. Today, every baby born in a U.S. hospital is given an Apgar score. With advances in neonatology and improved survival rates for infants with lower gestational ages, a new or revised scoring system may be warranted in order to more appropriately evaluate the extremely preterm infant. In addition, the predictive capabilities of Apgar scoring must be considered with caution for all gestational age groups.