Silverman-Andersen score


Silverman-Andersen score

 [sil´ver-man an´der-sen] a system for evaluation of breathing performance of premature infants. It consists of five items: (1) chest retraction as compared with abdominal retraction during inhalation; (2) retraction of the lower intercostal muscles; (3) xiphoid retraction; (4) flaring of the nares with inhalation; and (5) grunting on exhalation. Each of the five factors is graded 0, 1, or 2. The sum of these factors yields the score. Adequate ventilation is indicated by a 0, severe respiratory distress is indicated by a score of 10.