Which combination of findings constitutes the 'MOANS' mnemonic for predicting difficult bag-mask ventilation?
- A Male sex, Obesity, Age over 55, No teeth, Snoring ✓
- B Mask seal failure, Oedema, Apnoea, Neck stiffness, Short neck
- C Mallampati high, Obstructive sleep apnoea, No teeth, Smoking history
- D Micrognathia, Obesity, Narrow mouth opening, Sternotomy scar
Correct answer: A. Male sex, Obesity, Age over 55, No teeth, Snoring
Explanation
MOANS stands for Mask seal difficulty (beard, facial trauma), Obesity or obstructive sleep apnoea, Age greater than 55 years, No teeth (edentulousness reduces mask seal), and Stiff lungs or Snoring. Each factor independently increases the chance of difficult mask ventilation, and they are additive. Option C omits age and adds smoking, which is not part of the mnemonic, while options B and D mix genuine airway concerns with items that do not belong to MOANS.
Reference: Morgan and Mikhail's Clinical Anesthesiology, 7th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.