APGAR
Medical abbreviation · Pediatric & Neonatal
| Stands for | Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration (Apgar score) |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
APGAR stands for Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration (Apgar score), a pediatric & neonatal abbreviation.
Quick assessment of a newborn's condition at 1 and 5 minutes after birth, scoring skin color, heart rate, reflex irritability, muscle tone and breathing from 0 to 2 each, for a total of 0 to 10. Scores of 7 or higher are reassuring.
Example: Vigorous male infant, APGAR 8 and 9 at 1 and 5 minutes.
Usage notes
The score is named after anesthesiologist Virginia Apgar, who introduced it in 1952; the capitalized acronym is a later backronym devised to help students remember the criteria, so "Apgar" is the correct form. The score was not designed to predict long-term outcome or guide resuscitation. Additional scores are recorded every five minutes if the 5-minute score is below 7.
Related abbreviations
More pediatric & neonatal abbreviations
- AGE – Acute gastroenteritis
- AHT – Abusive head trauma
- ALTE – Apparent life-threatening event
- BRUE – Brief resolved unexplained event
- CCHD – Critical congenital heart disease
- DD – Developmental delay
- DOL – Day of life
- DTaP – Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine
- EI – Early intervention
- ELBW – Extremely low birth weight
- FASD – Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
- FTT – Failure to thrive
See all 51 pediatric & neonatal abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.