BMJ  2004;329 (17 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7458.0-c

Doctors do not use the Apgar score well

Doctors do not apply criteria for Apgar scoring consistently. Lopriore and colleagues (p 143) asked 166 paediatricians in the Netherlands to apply the Apgar score to three hypothetical presentations of newborns. They found no uniformity in scoring among doctors, particularly in assessment of respiratory efforts in intubated newborn babies. Paediatricians should follow Apgar's original definition more strictly, say the authors, and consensus on scoring intubated babies should be reached.

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Relevant Article

Correct use of the Apgar score for resuscitated and intubated newborn babies: questionnaire study

Enrico Lopriore, G Frederiek van Burk, Frans J Walther, and Arnout Jan de Beaufort
BMJ 2004 329: 143-144. [Full Text] [PDF]