Fetal or neonatal asphyxia may be associated with multiple organ failure in the neonatal period resulting from such dysfunctions as renal failure, meconium aspiration, shock, necrotizing enterocolitis, intra-cranial hemorrhage and acute encephalopathy. The authors sought to define a set of easily applied criteria for assessment of perinatal asphyxia which might also predict morbidity within the neonatal period.