|
|
Dr. Mersch received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego, and prior to entering the University Of Southern California School Of Medicine, was a graduate student (attaining PhD candidate status) in Experimental Pathology at USC. He attended internship and residency at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Ninety percent of term infants make a successful and uneventful transition from living within the womb to the outside world. About 10% will need some medical intervention and approximately 1% will require extensive resuscitation. A reproducible and rapidly determined rating system is necessary for evaluation the newborn infant. The Apgar score is a practical method for assessing a neonate.
The Apgar score is a number calculated by scoring the heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, skin color, and reflex irritability (response to a catheter in the nostril). Each of these objective signs can receive 0, 1, or 2 points.
A perfect Apgar score of 10 means an infant is in the best possible condition. An infant with an Apgar score of 0-3 needs immediate resuscitation. It is important to note that diligent care of the newborn is an immediate response to the current status of the infant. It is inappropriate to wait until Apgar scores are obtained to begin or continue to address the needs of the neonate.
The Apgar score is done routinely 60 seconds after the birth of the infant and then is repeated five minutes after birth.
In the event of a difficult resuscitation, the Apgar score may be done again at 10, 15, and 20 minutes.
Get tips for baby and you.
RxList does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.
Updated & New