👶 Silverman-Andersen Score (Neonatal Distress)
UseTrend work of breathing and response to support in newborns.
SourceSilverman WA, Andersen DH. Pediatrics 1956
This-shift next steps
After scoring: open the scene pack, peer scores, and the matching pathway. Local reference — no HIS write.
Paste the link in Slack, Teams, X, or LinkedIn — the preview image comes from this page’s Open Graph card.
Methodology · worked example, guidelines & full notes
Higher score is worse (opposite of Apgar).
When to use
Trend work of breathing and response to support in newborns.
How it works
Upper chest, lower chest, xiphoid retraction, nares dilatation, expiratory grunt — each 0–2. 0–10 (0 = no distress).
Key points
- Higher score is worse (opposite of Apgar).
- Useful for monitoring response to respiratory support.
- Complements oxygen saturation and blood gas.
References
Worked calculation
The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.
| Upper chest movement | Lag on inspiration (1) |
|---|---|
| Lower chest retraction | Just visible (1) |
| Xiphoid retraction | Just visible (1) |
| Nares dilatation | Minimal (1) |
| Expiratory grunt | Audible by stethoscope (1) |
→Silverman-Andersen5/10
- Interpretation：Moderate distress
- Note：Unlike Apgar, a higher Silverman score is worse; 0 indicates no respiratory distress.
| Upper chest movement | Synchronised (0) |
|---|---|
| Lower chest retraction | None (0) |
| Xiphoid retraction | None (0) |
| Nares dilatation | None (0) |
| Expiratory grunt | None (0) |
→Silverman-Andersen0/10
- Interpretation：No distress
- Note：Unlike Apgar, a higher Silverman score is worse; 0 indicates no respiratory distress.
Verification & sources · governance
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- What are the limits and cautions when using Silverman-Andersen Score (Neonatal Distress)?
- For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
- Does Silverman-Andersen Score (Neonatal Distress) upload patient data? Where is it calculated?
- Calculation runs locally in the browser; inputs and results are not uploaded. For licensed clinicians only; interpret with history, investigations and local protocols — not a diagnosis or prescription.
- How is Silverman-Andersen Score (Neonatal Distress) calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
- Inputs: Upper chest movement Lag on inspiration (1), Lower chest retraction Just visible (1), Xiphoid retraction Just visible (1), Nares dilatation Minimal (1), Expiratory grunt Audible by stethoscope (1) → Result: Silverman-Andersen 5 /10（Interpretation: Moderate distress, Note: Unlike Apgar, a higher Silverman score is worse; 0 indicates no respiratory distress.） Inputs: Upper chest movement Synchronised (0), Lower chest retraction None (0), Xiphoid retraction None (0), Nares dilatation None (0), Expiratory grunt None (0) → Result: Silverman-Andersen 0 /10（Interpretation: No distress, Note: Unlike Apgar, a higher Silverman score is worse; 0 indicates no respiratory distress.）