[Low Apgar score in term newborn infants and delivery pattern]

Examine the influence of delivery pattern over neonatal condition in the first minutes of life.

We have studied 3624 term newborns of single pregnancies for period of 2 years in the city of Pleven. The patients were divided in 4 groups by the delivery pattern: vaginal delivery with head presentation (2497 infants), vaginal delivery with instrumental assist (45 infants), per vias naturales in breech presentation (44 infants), delivery via Caesarean section (1038 infants).

According to our results the Apgar score differs itself from the pathology of a given newborn. Neonatal deaths are significantly higher in the newborns with low Apgar score than deaths in the general population. From all cases of low Apgar score without other clinical problems the highest is the percentage in the infants delivered via Caesarean section.

The goal of the Apgar score is to focus attention on the infant's condition in the first few minutes of its life and the need of resuscitation. Low Apgar score is an important predictor of the newborn morbidity and death rate. The Apgar score alone is not a proof for intrapartal asphyxia and is not associated with long-term neurological damage.